‘In God we have the greatest value’
18th January 2009
I Samuel 3; 1 – 10
‘The Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!
We name our children because they are precious. My Dad had his own ideas about what to call me when I was born – He wanted to call me Sean. But Mum decided to get in first. So when Dad came to see me for the first time Mum said to him: “Meet Graham!” There was no argument! There is surely a story behind every name.
I have a book which is full of names which really were given to real people at their baptisms. Here are a few examples: A brewer born 1797 was named Arthur Pint. Or, there was a child born in 1884 named Owen Money. Or there were two children baptised in Lincolnshire during the 19th century: Tom Ato and Tom Ayto. Or there was Min Speiss, who was born in Laverton in 1876. And there really was a woman born in Yorkshire called Easter Bunny. These were real people.
However, what caught my attention were some names given by Puritans during the 17th century such as: Redeemed Compton, Repent Chapney, Sorry-for-sin Coupard and the twins, Free-gift and Fear-not Lulham. Finally how about the son of Praise-God Barebon; who was baptised as: Nicholas If-Jesus-Christ-Had-Not-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Dammed-Barebon.
I wonder how sensible some parents have been in the naming of their children. But whatever we may think, the naming of a child is a precious act. Our reading today from the Old Testament book of the prophet Samuel tells how the Lord called Samuel by name. When his mother Hannah named him, she did so knowing just how precious Samuel was to her. For years Hannah had not been able to have children so the birth of Samuel was an incredible answer to her prayers. In the first chapter of 1Samuel it says: ‘She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
The young Samuel served in the Temple under the supervision of the High Priest Eli. At the time Eli had become more elderly and infirm. His eyesight was failing and he was lying down in his room. Samuel was very concerned to serve his sick master so he must have been on the alert. So when he heard his name being called he could only assume it was Eli calling out for help. But it was not Eli who called! Having heard his name called three times it was Eli who understood what was going on. It was the Lord calling Samuel’s name. When the Lord called again, Samuel responded as Eli had directed: ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’
So what does our reading from 1 Samuel tell us about you, me and God?
Well, first of all
1. We are all precious to God
To God, Samuel was precious and He called Samuel by name. We are all precious in God’s sight and he calls us by name. At a confirmation service the Bishop says to each candidate: ‘God has called you by name and made you his own. Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.’ We are all unique and precious to God. It is in God that we have the greatest value.
We all like to be valued and made to feel special and we tend to surround ourselves with activities and people that affirm us and accumulate objects that also affirm our value. But we tend to forget that our true value is in God who is central to our lives. We are more precious to God than anything or anyone. No one can take God away from us. He is with us and always will be no matter what happens in the world around.
In amongst the gloomy news in the newspaper I read this little story. A bargain Ferrari was being advertised for £50. Seeing this offer in the local newspaper, a prospective buyer rings the vendor to ask if it is a misprint. A female voice assures him it is genuine. He goes to view the car, and there it is on the drive outside a relatively well to do family home; a splendid, bright red Ferrari Testarossa.
The middle age woman who answered the door says she is happy to take cash. He asks to see the documentation and everything is in order. Finally, unable to suspend his disbelief any longer, the buyer looks the vendor in the eye and asks why she is willing to sell it so cheaply.
“It’s simple really,” the vendor sighed: “My husband ran off with his secretary and sent me note saying I could keep the house but to sell the car and send him the cash.”
A true story of our times! Amusing maybe, but never-the-less this story reveals how values have gone down hill in our times. May we remember that our t rue value can only be found in our relationship with God. He values us beyond all things. God’s calling of Samuel reveals that we are all precious to God.
Secondly
2. God calls us all to serve Him.
As Christians we all have the highest calling. Samuel served God in the Temple and even as a child God entrusted him with a serious prophetic message. God calls us all to serve him and use the gifts he has poured out upon us. When we have realised how precious we are in His sight then we can further learn to trust him for our calling and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in faith.
One of the very encouraging things about the ministry of the Church in the Farnhams and Hedgerley is how more people are exercising their gifts and exploring their role in the life of the Church. But we should also remember that we are the Church in the world. We exercise our God given gifts in the office, on the production line, on the building site and in the garden. We also exercise a ministry at home among family and friends. But at the heart of our serving is prayer which we can all do. God calls us all to serve him as channels of His love and peace.
Finally, Thomas Merton said these encouraging words:
‘It seems to me the most absurd thing in the world to be upset because I am weak and distracted and blind and constantly make mistakes! What else do I expect! Does God love me any less because I can’t make myself a saint by my own power and in my own way?
He loves me more because I am so clumsy and helpless without him – and underneath what I am he sees me as I will one day be by his pure gift and that pleases him – and therefore it pleases me and I attend to his great love which is my joy.’
