In the process of finding light at the end of the tunnel, I stumbled upon this story from LarkNews.com, called, Man, 91 Dies Waiting For Will of God.
TUPELO — Walter Houston, described by family members as a devoted Christian, died Monday after waiting 70 years for God to give him clear direction about what to do with his life.
“He hung around the house and prayed a lot, but just never got that confirmation,” his wife Ruby said. “Sometimes he thought he heard God’s voice, but then he wouldn’t be sure, and he’d start the process all over again.”
Houston, she says, never really figured out what his life was about, but felt content to pray continuously about what he might do for the Lord. Whenever he was about to take action, he would pull back “because he didn’t want to disappoint God or go against him in any way,” Ruby says. “He was very sensitive to always remain in God’s will. That was primary to him.”
Friends say they liked Walter though he seemed not to capitalize on his talents.“Walter had a number of skills he never got around to using,” says longtime friend Timothy Burns. “He worked very well with wood and had a storyteller side to him, too. I always told him, ‘Take a risk. Try something new if you’re not happy,’ but he was too afraid of letting the Lord down.”
To his credit, they say, Houston, who worked mostly as a handyman, was able to pay off the mortgage on the couple’s modest home. •This story wouldn't be at all funny if it were true. Lark News is an online Christian satire magazine similar to The Babylon Bee. Here is a guy who has many talents, all of which are confirmed by his friends and wife; a mind to do the right thing; and a heart to please and serve the Lord. Very similar to the parable of the talents in Mathew 25:14-30. Each servant was given an amount of talents according to his ability. Some more than others. But that didn't give the man who received just one, a break from investing that talent. He was equally told to increase it for his lord. In the end, he buried his talent and gave back to his lord what he was given. Why? He had a wrong view of his lord and he was afraid of messing up. The whole time knowing what the will of his lord was. But in all seriousness...this is me and this could be you. What can I glean from this?
We already know what God's will is. It's pretty obvious. Here are some clues from His word.
- Love God and love others (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27; Mathew 22:37-38)
- Abstain from sexual immorality, sanctify yourself, and don't defraud your neighbor (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6).
- To do good (1 Peter 2:15).
- In everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- See Jesus and believe in Him for salvation (John 6:40).
- God's desire that all men everywhere be saved (Acts 17:30; 1 Timothy 2:4)
So, back to the story of Walter...where did he go wrong and what should he have done? First, he should have prayed not to know God's personal will for his life, but how he could personally use his gifts to further God's kingdom, love others, and how to seek and save that which is lost, all the while becoming more like Christ and giving thanks to Him for all things. He should have taken the advice of his friends to realize what those talents are, what he is good at, and how to minister to those around him. His friends said he was a great storyteller, great with wood, and a handyman. So, obviously he had the gift of helps, and secondary possibly teaching. Plus, he was a prayer warrior.
I know that I have some friends of mine reading this and laughing, knowing that this is what they've been trying to tell me for years. That I have talents the Lord has given me, and that I need to use them to further His kingdom. I just need to stop praying for God's will. So what are my gifts? God has taken this shy child and turned him into an open-air preacher. He has turned this kid who's job was to hold the light into a person who could fix just about anything. What will he turn this man into next? Only He knows, and I am content with that.
