What's the FUSS?

A favorite Bible story of mine, and perhaps many a young boy is David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. It wasn't till recently though that something about the story struck me that had never occurred to me before.

1 Samuel 17:40 (NIV) "The [David] took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine."

1 Samuel 17:49 (NIV) "Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground."



We all remember that David was triumphant as the Lord handed Goliath over to him in victory just as a faithful David had claimed God would do. But what we forget is that David walked off the battlefield with four stones left in his bag! That's right, Four Unused Smooth Stones, or what I like to refer to as the FUSS. Was David's faith in God limited? Was he unsure that God would require more than one stone, so therefore he grabbed 5 just in case? No. David's confidence in the Lord was steadfast at that moment. To me, the fact that he left the field with 4 stones served as a reminder that slaying Goliath was only the beginning of his journey, not an end.

It serves as a reminder to me too, that though, like David, my Goliath has been defeated by the first stone, Jesus the Messiah and cornerstone defeated my sin through his death upon the Cross, I too stand triumphant with Four Unused Smooth Stones in my bag. A reminder that by Grace, through Faith I am saved and that God requires no works for my salvation and yet God requires me to live out my faith as an action word! God does in fact require works (the Great Commission alone is a call to action), he just doesn't require them FOR SALVATION. Salvation we received as a gift, the rest is just an outward expression of what we rejoice each day in. So I carry my bag of four stones each day as reminder of to whom I belong and for whom I live out my life. Every morning I ask myself, "What's the FUSS?" and I strive to live each day for God.

Of course, I've taken it a step further, and labeled each of my four stones as a reminder as to how God wants me to live my life for his glory. I'll share that on next Thursday's "Men's" posting.