Pastor Pondering #185: King Me

“King me!” is the phrase every delighted checkers player expresses when they settle into the back row of enemy territory. This newly minted royalty has special privileges. No longer is the king fettered by only moving in one direction. The king may move forward or backward as desired. There is no more getting stuck in congested traffic moving only a single space at a time. The king may fly across the board at will capturing enemy checkers along the way. Every advantage seems to be on the side of his majesty and the player with the most kings at his or her disposal is generally favored to win.

People often think that life works like a game of checkers. This earthly sojourn is a race to build a superior kingdom which they rule as king over a subjected peasantry. Or, at least where they feel free to do as they please with sufficient resources to make a decent life for themselves. A pursuit of self-rule and being the designer of their own destiny. Israel had a similar desire when they demanded of Samuel a king.

1 Samuel 8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

This was concerning enough since Samuel made it abundantly clear at what great cost this king would come in terms of taxes, servitude and the relinquishing of the best of the people and lands. Yet Israel determined to have a king. There was a cost greater still than all the rest. In demanding their own king, they rejected the Lord as their sovereign ruler.

1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

Friends, God is not opposed to independence. He encourages us to take personal responsibility and grow in grace and maturity in every aspect of life. However, all this independence must be cultivated while in utter dependence upon God.

Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

A Christian walking in wisdom and living a life of confidence is never without submission to a higher authority. We abide in the vine which is Jesus Christ, without whom we can do nothing. Perhaps you have moved beyond the limited single steps of years past and garnered some independence in your coming and going. It’s possible you have gained liberty to jump across the board of life moving in any direction you please. Regard that your every liberty is granted by a gracious King who offers great liberty in nearly all speres of life. But remember, when it comes to the throne of your own heart, yes, your very life, He cries, “King Me!”.