Confronting your destiny when your boss is pooping

As a kid who grew up in sunday school, the story of 1 Samuel 24 was one of my favorites because it was a serious story that involved a guy pooping.

My wife thinks saying poop on my blog is kind of immature. I agree. I was gonna use the word 'feces' instead but it just doesn’t have the same effect so I’m just gonna use 1 of my 5 annual ‘say poop without consequence’ cards.

Here’s the quick gist if you’re not familiar with the narrative...

* Saul is first king of Israel. God rejects Saul and chooses a new King named David.
* David kills a giant and becomes popular. Threatened Saul gets jealous and tries to kill David.
* Dave runs. Saul Chases. Dave runs. Saul chases. Dave runs. Saul chases. [Enter 1 Samuel 24].

Dave and his armed ragtag friends hide from Saul in a cave. Saul unknowingly goes into same cave alone to do his business [after he dug a royal toilet in the ground of course].

5 minutes later, In movie like dramatic fashion, Dave walks out of the cave with Saul’s head in his hands. Movie over. God just handed the evil King over to the good King, the new king, David.

Not really. Made that last part up. David didn’t kill Saul-much to the dismay of his friends-instead he said...

“The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed..."

So david had such reverence for God and his story that he wouldn’t lay a hand on the King.
The evil King.
Who God had rejected.
Who was chasing him...
TRYING to kill him.

David would not touch Saul even though Saul was the only person that stood between him and his dreams.

With Saul gone, EVERYONE [even Saul’s men] would have gladly welcomed David as King. The whole Kingdom loved him.
He didn’t have to run anymore. Or hide.
He’d no longer be a homeless fugitive. He’d be king.

And it would have been easy. Really easy. Think about it.

David already killed an armed giant named Goliath so it wouldn’t have been that hard for him to kill an unarmed man who was pooping. In fact, I bet one of his friends would have gladly done it for him if he asked.

But David said no. Pass.

I won’t become King by compromising my moral authority.
I’ll be King another day.
I’ll let God make me King when he’s ready.

Wow.

So here’s the big question.

What would you do?

Option A: Compromise a little and have everything you’ve always wanted.

Option B: Watch everything you've always wanted walk out the door because you trust God.

Before you pick, remember that option A will be REALLY easy, no one has to ever know and you can make a great case for it serving the greater good. Also, most people will actually champion you for choosing it. And God will forgive you.

What would you do?

This question scares me because I'm a progress addict. I'll do almost anything to see progress and growth especially in ministry. 

Jesus, please make me a man of character and integrity in the small things and when no one is watching.

What area of your life will it be most tempting to take a short cut or compromise if the perfect opportunity came up? [finances/school/work/marriage etc]

Have you ever had to choose between having something you've always wanted and doing something that pleases God?

Any other thoughts?