Don’t back out

Ecclesiastes 8:2-4

Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.  Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence.  Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.  Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?” NIV

Hmmm …

In The Message, these verses are translated, “Do what your king commands; you gave a sacred oath of obedience. Don’t worryingly second-guess your orders or try to back out when the task is unpleasant. You’re serving his pleasure, not yours. The king has the last word. Who dares say to him, ‘What are you doing?'” MSG

Don’t worryingly second guess your orders or try to back out when the task is unpleasant …

I’ve spent a lot of time asking God what he wants me to do with my life.  Likely, more time asking than truly listening for an answer.

When answers do come, I can’t second-guess them.

Some of what I must do here is unpleasant … trials I must endure … things that will surely teach me and prepare me for what my future holds, or that will benefit others in ways that I may never see or understand.

I can’t back out just because I’m tired, or bored, or worried … life is not a game of monopoly … you can’t just push back from the table and ask, “Who wants pie?”

Each day must be lived to its fullest potential.  We are here to serve God, to please God … not the other way around.

God, the ultimate King, has the last word … who am I to say, “What are you doing?”

That’s what I’ll think about today.