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1 Samuel 17:14-15 (KJV) – “¹⁴ And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. ¹⁵ But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”

David’s three eldest brothers followed Saul to the battle. They were older and more experienced than David. They were probably physically stronger and bigger than him. The battle with Goliath was highly important and urgent. The Philistines had already arrived, and the Israelites were threatened with being turned into enslaved people if they lost the battle. David was the youngest son, the least among his brothers.

While his brothers attended to what they thought to be ‘urgent and important,’ David attended to the humble duties of helping his parents. The fifth commandment, which tells us to honor our parents, comes immediately after the first four, which tells us to honor God.

God is not a haphazard God; there is a reason why He placed that commandment where it is. This means that your earthly parents come immediately after God in hierarchy. David did not first attend the battle. He did not first attend to duties that would honor him. He first attended to the responsibilities given to him by his parents, which was feeding his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. David did that which was truly important. It is only God who should tell us what is urgent and important. We should not depend on our understanding (Proverbs 3:5). We should not depend on other people’s opinions contrary to God’s Word (Psalm 1:1).

You might have something urgent at work to do. Responsibility to God should always come first. Responsibility to your parents should come second (when you are not yet married), then to other people third. When you are married, responsibility to your spouse and your children should come second after God. This is because a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5).

You will gain a tremendous blessing when you push aside activities to earn a living to do God’s work. God will bless you because of the great sacrifice you have made. This is because you have put God and His work above your life. God will give you much more career success if you keep the Sabbath day holy and rest instead of working.

The secret of career success lies in the Sabbath commandment.

Exodus 20:9-10 (KJV) – “⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.”

The Sabbath commandment gives us the basic rule and principle of work. It tells us to work for six days but rest on the seventh day. For six days, we are meant to be excellent in our efforts, while on the seventh day, we are to acknowledge God for giving us the ability to do what we have done for those six days. The Sabbath rest refreshes us and fuels us for the coming week, thus one is able to do and accomplish more than those who work seven days a week.

Mark 10:29-30 (KJV) – “²⁹ And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel’s, ³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”

Jesus promises that if you make such sacrifices, you will receive many blessings in this life and in the world to come eternal life.

“Those who claim to be followers of the Master Worker, and who engage in His service as colaborers with God, are to bring into their work the exactitude and skill, the tact and wisdom that the God of perfection required in the building of the earthly tabernacle. And now, as in that time and as in the days of Christ’s earthly ministry, devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice should be regarded as the first requisites of acceptable service. God designs that not one thread of selfishness shall be woven into His work.” — The Review and Herald, January 4, 1906, Ellen G. White.

When you sacrifice your comfort for God and your parents’ sake, God will be obligated to perform the unimaginable in your life. David was close to God, and he understood these deep spiritual mysteries. While his brothers went to assist Saul in the national battle, David understood that taking care of his father’s sheep was more important than national duties. He knew that only God had the power to deliver them from the hand of the great and experienced Philistine champion Goliath. That is why he went to take care of the sheep.

The Israelites felt the battle was difficult, but David found it easy since he knew that even though the Philistines appeared outwardly to be more powerful than them, they were not stronger than them because the all-powerful God was on their side. He understood that with God, they couldn’t lose.

1 Samuel 17:17-18 (KJV) – “¹⁷ And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren; ¹⁸ And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.”

David’s father sent him to take food to his brothers. David showed duty to God first, his parents, then his brothers. He showed love for his family before showing love for the nation. All along, David knew by the power of God; he could defeat Goliath (1 Samuel 17:26 & 36).

David’s brothers couldn’t kill Goliath because they didn’t even have the courage to face him in battle. David knew he could face Goliath in combat but still served his brothers. It does not make you less superior when you serve others. Jesus is God and the Creator of everything, but he still washed his disciples’ feet.

God watched as David took care of his father’s sheep and as he went to take food to his brothers. He knew He would use David in his humility to shock everyone and show them that the way to rise is first to go down. David loved God. Therefore, he earnestly followed His directions.

“But when we give ourselves wholly to God, and in our work follow His directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. He would not have us conjecture as to the success of our honest endeavors. Not once should we even think of failure. We are to cooperate with One who knows no failure.” – Messages to Young People, Page 309.3, Ellen G. White.

When you corporate with God, the creator of success, there is no way you will fail. Jacob attained more blessings than Esau due to attending to home duties, while Esau was always out in the field hunting. No matter how important whatever you are doing is, a duty to God is most important, and a duty to your family is the second most important.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the family that You have given me. I ask you to make me take my duty to you and my duty to my family to be of the greatest urgency and importance. In Jesus name, Amen.

Activity

Step 1: List Your Current Responsibilities

Write down all the things you consider urgent or important right now. These may include work tasks, school assignments, personal goals, or family obligations.

Step 2: Reorder by God’s Priority

Now, reorder that list according to the biblical hierarchy:

1. Duty to God (e.g., prayer, Bible study, Sabbath keeping)
2. Duty to Parents (or caregivers/family support)
3. Duty to Others (e.g., friends, church, nation, career)

Step 3: Take One Action Today

Choose one simple action you can do today to honor God or your parents/family, even if it feels small.
Examples:

• Call or visit your parents just to check in and pray for them.
• Say “no” to overtime work today and attend a prayer meeting or spend quiet time with God.
• Volunteer to do a task at home that no one asked you to do.

Step 4: Reflect Tonight

At the end of the day, take 5 minutes to reflect:

• Did I put God first?
• Did I serve my family with humility?
• How did it feel compared to chasing “urgent” work or success?

Step 5: Share

Share this message with someone.

Author: Mark Alex   

Email: gettruthgetlife@gmail.com 

Phone Number: +254710633247   

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