by Autumn Galiher
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Proverbs 31:16
When you hear the words, Esther, or Ruth, what comes to your mind? These are just a few that come to my mind: queen, power, handsome Boaz, providence, admiration, and courage. These two women are often the biggest role models in a girl’s life. They are important women since they both have a book in the Bible named after them, and are the only women to do so. Whenever these women are preached about, we often fall into the altar praying that we would have the courage of Esther and the commitment of Ruth, to do what God wants us to do when faced with these circumstances. The problem is, we rarely have a kingdom that needs saving or a lonely widow with a handsome cousin. What are we doing for God in the mundane times, the times that nothing is really going our way, or nothing big is happening? I am not writing this saying I have achieved, but I am writing about things God has been dealing with me to come up higher in.
There is an example of a young lady that finds herself doing the will of God in the mundane circumstances of life. Her story is found in 2 Kings 5. This passage is about Naaman, the leper. This is a story that we are all very familiar with, but there is a small unsung hero in this chapter. The girl that I’m talking about is not even named in the story, yet she is the key to the healing of Naaman.
2 Kings 5:2-4, “And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy. 4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.”
The first thing we learn about this girl is that she was a captive. If anyone had a right to be upset or waiting for better circumstances, it was this young lady. She could have easily said that she would be a witness for her God when she was back in her own country, when it was more convenient. When I am among my people, I will be a help. I will visit the widows and help with the temple, could have been some of her thoughts. How often do we use the excuse, I will do something for God when I get asked to go there or teach that class. I want to work for God, but He hasn’t created a position for me yet, I haven’t been crowned queen yet. This can often be our mindset. This young maid was in dire circumstances, yet she still spoke out for her God.
The next thing we learn about this girl, is that she was single. This is often another excuse that we tell ourselves. I can’t do anything for God until I’m married. We think about how Ruth was given a husband and eventually was in the lineage of Christ, so I must wait for my Boaz. Don’t get me wrong, marriage is honorable and there is nothing wrong with waiting for your Boaz, but what are you doing while you wait? 1 Corinthians 7:34, “There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit…”
I’m not saying you should forget your Boaz, I’m saying, don't forget to work in the fields until he comes.
Lastly, we see that the young lady was busy. The Bible says that she waited on Naaman’s wife. The life of a maid is not one I envy; it is one of constant work. Another excuse that we sometimes use is, “When I get more free time, I will do something for God.” Oftentimes we are waiting to be out of college, then until after the kids are in school, then until after we retire and the list goes on and on. It is easy to get so caught up in the busyness of life, we forget to do something for God. In the story, the young lady did not put on some huge production, she just said a few words.
It could be that God wants to use you to say a few words of encouragement. Send someone a text message saying you’re praying for them, take food to a church dinner or to someone sick, help clean the church, or bring snacks for Sunday school. God might not be asking you to save a race of people from death like Esther, He just wants you to be willing to do the small things, the mundane.
As women of God there is so much we can do for Him, if we are willing.
We must lay aside the excuses that we take security in, and ask the Lord to show us the small things He would have us to do.
I know I need to pray consistently that I don’t miss the small opportunities to work for the Lord, while looking for the big plans He might have for me.
