I am about to share with you an amazing story of a face-to-face encounter with death. This story is true. I am avoiding some names for the sake of discretion. I’m sure you understand.

A family owned a ranch back in the days where right and wrong was enforced by one’s own strength. Judges and authorities were either too far or too slow to help. This family was large by our standards with Mom and Dad having eight sons and two daughters. This was a time when families weren’t fragmented, but each member pulled together to survive. This was also a time of war and the oldest three sons were conscripted into service.

Operating a ranch and providing for daily necessities was difficult at times, but always rewarding. The challenges were on all sides – harsh weather, predators, and unruly people. Losing the three eldest sons, the three best ranch hands, to the military was an added challenge. It gave the younger children an opportunity to take on more responsibility and contribute to the family in a greater way.

David, the youngest boy and second youngest in the family, was asked to no longer help around the house with chores but now he was to spend his time watching over the herds. He was excited at the adventure of it. He loved playing in the hills and looked forward to avoiding the mundane chores around the house like hauling water to his Mom.

One evening on the porch after dinner his father sat down with him to talk. He explained their livelihood depended on David taking care of the animals. They needed access to clean water morning and night and good grazing land each day. His father told him to keep a keen eye out for any predators, and he’ll recognize their unwanted presence by the reaction of the animals. With a heart full of commitment David embraced his new job.

The days passed and the challenge of working with the herds was mastered easier than he thought. It’s amazing how much one learns from older brothers who do a good job. The biggest challenge David faced was the loneliness and monotony of each day. He began to pour out his heart to God. He would pray for his brothers in battle, he’d pray for his family, and their ranch. He would also think and pray about growing up. Prayer always brought comfort and eased the loneliness.

One evening, right at dusk, David noticed the herd was agitated.  They were moving about and not settling down as usual for the night. It was not normal. He couldn’t see anything wrong, but his adrenaline began to rise. His senses were on full alert as he picked up his staff and left his campfire to get a closer look. He could hear his heart pounding and his breathing seamed so loud. “Settle down David, settle down. Think, Look, Listen,” he thought. Suddenly he heard the bleats of fear off to his right. He looked and the sheep were running. He scanned intently through the fading light. He caught a glimpse of movement. It wasn’t a sheep, it was moving too smoothly. Sheep would bounce more as they moved. It was a LION! It was carrying a sheep in its mouth. Immediately David ran towards the lion. The lion stopped to face David.   Running right at it David struck the lion with his whole heart and all of his strength. He killed it in one mighty blow! An intense rush of emotion rose up; victory, joy, and peace almost indescribable washed over him. David whispered, “Thank you God.”

I’m sure you recognize my adaptation of the story of the shepherd boy David from the Bible (1 Samuel 16 & 17). I am amazed every time I think about David. It is not normal to run at a lion. It’s not. He did the same thing when a bear came. He ran at the bear with a stick! I hope you’re hearing what I’m saying. Think about that. It’s human nature to run from danger, not towards it.

There two things I’d like to explore; why he ran at the lion and how he found victory. If we can grasp why and how then we can share in his knowledge and understanding.

Let’s look at why he ran at the lion. I believe there is only one reason David would ever run at that lion. Running at danger is not normal. He had to realize there was more going on than a lion trying to get an easy meal. He saw the lion as an intruder trying to steal what God had given him through his father. He saw a bigger picture than most see. He saw with eyes of faith or you could say he saw from God’s perspective. The lion was no match for God; this was a test. A test he was ready for.

David understood stewardship beyond a dictionary definition and far beyond a religious definition of “taking care of something like you owned it.” He understood that stewardship is when God gives you something period. You do own it. God owns it too, because God owns you. It is God’s and yours. All things are yours and all things are God’s (1 Cor 3:21 and Romans 8:32).

The average person would see with their eyes. They would see isolation. They would think thoughts like,

“No one is watching me care for a bunch of sheep. One lost won’t matter, no sense endangering myself, right? My life is worth more than a sheep. I could always tell my father that it happened and there was nothing I could do or I didn’t hear anything. I only have a stick; no one in his or her right mind would fight a lion with a stick.”

This average type of thinking would lead to losing a few sheep. This is the religious view of stewardship; taking care of God’s resources. This yields less than impressive results because the thinking is wrong. It is the same wrong thinking the wicked servant was guilty of when he buried the talent. The Master entrusted his servants with his goods. The servant never realized the Master gave it to him (Matthew 25:15). It was his and the Master’s. This difference is subtle but it is also critical. In Matthew 25:25 the servant said, “Here is what belongs to you.” Did you catch that, “what belongs to you.” He never considered the Master had given him the talent. The bible says the Master gave the talents. When he returned the one with five brought five more. It doesn’t say the Master took them from him. It says the Master actually gave him more including the one the wicked servant buried. When something is yours you use it, protect it, and take care of it.

David saw things through the eyes of his heart. David worshipped the Lord his God and knew that any assignment from his earthly father was an assignment from his Heavenly Father. God had a purpose for him and was training him to fulfill it. He may not understand that he would face a Giant named Goliath one day but he did believe what he was doing was for God and in turn therefore David’s good. David sees the lion and knows this is an opportunity to protect the sheep. He had already decided if he saw a predator he was going to kill it. Nothing was going to take his father’s sheep. Nothing was going to take his sheep. Nothing was going to take God’s sheep. He understood stewardship through the eyes of the Lord.

In summary the “why” is all about seeing God’s purpose and embracing everything He has given us with a heart of true stewardship. The world will not tell you this but your heart will testify to the truth.

Now let’s look at “how” David did it. I think this is the best part. The bible says the Spirit of the Lord rested on David (1 Sam 16:13). I believe this helps explain why he thought so differently from most people. This is why he thought with a heart of faith. You see God plus a young man’s heart will defeat any adversary. The critical part here is the young man believes God. He must see the lion as a test of his faith, not a day to die. I can sense hope rising in your heart as you understand and confirm that the “how” is not dependent on your strength. David didn’t have to be stronger, faster, or more ferocious than a lion. He just needed to believe and God then makes a way. It is evidence of faith. To fulfill our destiny we must know God has more. Better things are yet to come. Bigger tests are also yet to come as our faith grows.

The “How” is summed up by us living through him (1 John 4:9). The Holy Spirit living in you will lead you to glorify God and find your purpose. This is the greatest joy you could ever imagine. Inside your DNA, like David, is a longing to be what God designed you to be, to do what God has for you to do. Remember, He knit you together in your mother’s womb with a plan and purpose in mind. Plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer 29:11).

If you want to find true satisfaction, you must find out what you were made for and then do it. When you do, like David, love, joy, and peace will spring up within you and overflow. Your happiness depends on finding and fulfilling your purpose. Find a quiet place and lift your heart up to your Creator. He will impart the “why” and “how” into your heart too.