October 6: Do not forget me!

Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life……… After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the Lord”……… When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. “Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for, I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord”……… The Lord paid attention to Hannah’s need, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.  (1 Samuel 1:10,11,20-28; 2:21 — Holman Christian Standard Bible) 

This is a beautiful story of a woman's faith — her great need and how God answered that need — and then of her sacrifice to God and how God blessed her even more. Hannah was childless in a society where that was considered a terrible curse. But in faith and desperation she cried out to God, asked for a son and promised to give that same son back to God for the rest of his life. God gave her a son, Samuel, who became a great prophet, a priest of God, and the leader of Israel. But when she gave this son — her treasure — to God, He rewarded her. She was given five more children in place of the child she gave to God.

If you ask: “Why don’t I receive more from God?" — this passage is my answer. Hannah’s story is the answer. God’s ready to do more, to help you, to open doors for you, and to use you… but are you ready to give Him your best? If He gives to you to the same degree that you give to Him, will you be happy? Will you be satisfied? Don’t expect to receive big things from God when you read His word only a little, pray sometimes, come to church when you feel like it, and obey Him some of the time. Hannah gave her best to God and she received God's best in return. You can never become poor by giving to God!