"I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves." - Ecclesiastes 10:7 ESV
This verse is from Spurgeon's morning devotional.
This is so true. I know some real spiritual giants that slave all day at hard jobs and when you talk to them you marvel at their wisdom and compassion and then on the other side of the coin there are people who 'won the lucky sperm contest.' They were born into wealth or power yet they lack the utility, integrity or wisdom to use that advantage in a very useful way.
A horse is a vehicle. Something that allows swift and powerful movement. You sit higher on a horse so you have a clearer vantage point of the surrounding terrain.
Here is the verse I got this morning as an answer to this dilemma.
"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV
Eagles have a higher vantage point than horses and those forced to run gain stamina and strength.
"And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on." - 2 Samuel 18:9 ESV
This is the spiritual danger of pride and exaltation. Pride is expressed in long hair in the scriptures. In the old testament men were to have short hair as a witness to the angels. That long hair matched with an exalted position can leave a man 'suspended between heaven and earth' and vulnerable.
"For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:8-10 ESV
I am not one who believes that poverty and lowly living are the lot of spiritual people. Yes, It happens in the world but success also happens. It is usually because people see value where no one sees it and nurtures that value through time and resources. We have young princes in our homes, communities and Churches. Let us do good to them and to everyone.
"And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power." - 1 Corinthians 6:14 ESV
Yes, He will.
"And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt." - 1 Samuel 18:4 ESV
We have a robe of righteousness, a shield of faith and a Bible as sword. Let's give those things away to the princes we meet. Each believer in God is a prince in His eyes. To be born from above means to be born into royalty.
I would rather cup my hands to lift a man up to ride as an eagle than to help him up onto his high horse.
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