Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC

1 Samuel 1:21-28

21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,[c] an ephah[d] of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

And he worshiped the Lord there.

In the book of 1 Samuel we are introduced to the character Hannah.. She was one of the wives of Elkanah, who unfortunately was unable to bear children. Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah had several children and each time they went to offer up the yearly sacrifice, Peninnah would mock Hannah because of her infertility. Over time Hannah cried out in desperation to the Lord and He heard her cry, and blessed her with a son named Samuel. However, her response after Samuel came was interesting. Instead of keeping the child and raising him, she fulfilled the promise she gave to the Lord and gave Samuel right back to Him. 

Hannah made a commitment before the Lord that she would give the son she was blessed with back to Him and she did. Here is what Hannah came to realize- Samuel was the Lord’s. Hannah understood that the best way to steward the great gift that was given to her was to give Him back to the Lord. Hannah understood that all she had was from the Lord and we ought to be faithful in giving back to Him. 

What a blessing it is to be able to give to the Lord! James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. All that we possess has come from Him and so our heart ought to be moved to live generously, choosing to give to others, as well as give to Him. This life that we possess, choose to give it to Him and let Him use you. Your family- though it is easy to try and hold on to them, choose to give them to the Lord and allow Him to do a work in their life. Choose to give it all back to Him. 

Today, what does giving look like in your life? Are you choosing to be more of a hoarder of your life and possessions? Listen, can I encourage you to choose to give it back to the Lord, the One who gave it to you. Instead of trying to “hoard” the gift of your family, choose to take them to the Lord in prayer and watch Him work in their life. Instead of trying to lead your own life, choose to surrender and give it to the Lord. May we choose to be like Hannah- who chose to give her greatest possession/her greatest gift back to the Lord. 

 Take my life and let it be

consecrated, Lord, to thee.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for all the great gifts you have blessed me with. Help me to be a good steward of my life, my family, and the possessions you have given me by choosing to give them back to you. In Jesus’ name, amen!

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.