An Important Question

An Important Question

…How long have I to live?

II Samuel 19:34

David was returning to his capital city after an attempt to overthrow him had ended in disaster. One of his main supporters was a very wealthy man called Barzillai. As David was about to ascend to Jerusalem he offered to Barzillai a place in his court. Barzillai  graciously declined. As he did so, being some eighty years old, he made an interesting remark in the form of a rhetorical question. He asks, ‘How long have I to live?’ We want to consider this question carefully. There are things here that our worthy of our contemplation. First, this is an important question. If we have but a few days or weeks to live, that will drastically alter our plans and preparations. If we have many years, we can afford to relax and take a very casual approach to life. It is critical that we ask this question because if we do not, we will not lay emphasis upon what really matters. We may fritter away our time with scarcely a thought for the future. We can fill our lives with questions of far less importance. We may become consumed with what we are going to eat, where we are going to live, and what we are going to wear. Christ addressed the big questions. He asked, ‘what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ He would have us do the same. The question before us is of such magnitude that we ignore it at our own peril. Today, let us consider the question, ‘How long have I to live?’

Our Holy and Wise God,
we praise You that You bring us to consider
the important questions of life.
We rejoice that by Your Wisdom and by Your Grace,
You will lead us to right conclusions.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning