Aligned With God’s Purposes?

by Sergio Valori

he book of 1 Samuel begins with the story of a man with two wives named Peninnah and Hannah. I believe this story holds a parallel to conditions in the church world today.

Peninnah seemed to be the blessed of the Lord, for she had numerous children. Hannah bore the reproach of having no children, for her womb had been made barren by the Lord. Isn’t it strange that her condition was not an ordinary physical defect but something from the Lord?

The scenario that emerges is that Hannah becomes a woman of prayer while Peninnah continues to enjoy her children and her general state of well being.

As the story opens, there is a sense in which both women are absorbed in their own self-centered interests. Peninnah is enjoying her children and Hannah is praying that she might have a child for herself. Thus, Peninnah’s children are for herself and Hannah’s prayers are for herself.

"Do I exist for God and His enterprises?"

Meanwhile, conditions among God’s people are deteriorating so badly that God’s glory is all but departed. The priesthood is corrupt and everyone else is simply doing “what is right in their own eyes.” (Ju. 21:25)

In times like this, God is in need of an instrument to address the condition, restore the glory and bring His people back into alignment with His purposes.

As Hannah continues in her prayer life, she has the opportunity to become aligned with the yearnings of God’s heart. She can either continue endlessly to ask for a child for herself or she can arrive at a place where she becomes aware of God’s need to have an instrument for His purpose.

Finally, there comes a breakthrough in the way Hannah prays: “And she vowed a vow and said, O, Lord of hosts, if thou …wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life…” (1Sa.1:11)

There is much teaching in some segments of the church today on how to get blessed, even how to get rich. It is a day of mega churches, great cathedrals and focus on material prosperity. The testimony of the Laodicean church is being formed: “…I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing…” (Rev.3:17)

Although we believe that God wants to bless His people and would not advocate a poverty doctrine, we need to ask the question, “How much of what we have and what we are doing is really in alignment with God’s purpose for today?”

Peninnah was proud of her children and her status with both her husband and her community. She is comparable to what might today be called “a successful ministry”. But Hannah, having been made barren of the Lord, became an instrument that God could use for His need.

It is clear these two women represent two separate segments in the church today. Those, who like Peninnah are living for self-gratification and fulfillment and those who, like Hannah, are in a state of relative barrenness but who have the opportunity to come into alignment with God’s purposes.

What is our prayer life like? Is it all for me, my family, my friends, my church or is it being refined unto a realm where the heart of God is reached?

Let us ask ourselves some further questions. Does God exist for me to be blessed and catered to or do I exist for God and His enterprises?

If I am in the Lord’s work, is my objective to be successful (according to the standard of the world) or is it that I might be involved in something to satisfy the yearnings of God’s heart?

These are sobering questions for a sobering time. May the Lord search our hearts and discern our motives.