Better Than Being Desired
As a 47 year old always single woman, who wants to be married, a large part of me would like to channel that “holier than thou” spirit (that can pop up in all of us from time to time), and say that I have never styled my hair, worn my clothes, freshened my makeup, or walked a little less like my shoes really weren’t pinching my toes, all for the purpose of being desired by a man. But, that would be a lie. A big one! I did mention that I want to be married, right? Many of us have done things to let the Boaz of our dreams know, “hey dummy, wife material over here!” As long as those things didn’t involve violence, kidnapping, or walking away from Biblical morals, I think it’s fine to put yourself in a position to be found by a godly man. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be desired. I’m sure even after Boaz is found, and the marriage has been going strong for years, you will still want to be desired by him. What I want to talk about is that thing that is better than being desired by men. It is that thing that will keep you at 47 years old when you are still single and undesired by a good man, or married for 20 years and no longer desired by your spouse.
It was interesting to me to find out that when Saul of Tarsus started using the name Paul, he wasn’t looking to exalt himself in any way. The name Saul means “to be desired.” It was the name of the 1st King of Israel. It was a royal name and it had a good meaning. One would think that if Saul felt the need to use a different name, he would choose one like David, Jeremiah, Beniah, or Joshua. Instead, he chose to call himself “little” or “small” = less than. He called himself Paul: the least of the apostles, the lowest of all saints, and chief among sinners.
I think back to when God changed names in the Old Testament:
Abram (exalted father) became Abraham (father of a multitude)
Sarai (argumentative) became Sarah (noble woman or princess)
Jacob (supplanter) became Israel (prince of God)
When Father God changed names, He did it as a way of memorializing the spiritual accomplishments or potential of the person. It was a way of showing how He was going to bless them. In the New Testament, we see something different. When Jesus changed Simon’s name (which means to be heard) to Peter (which means rock or stone), we see Jesus taking Simon from being “one who is heard” to “a rock or a stone.”
Acts 4:22 warns us that it is through much tribulation that we enter the Kingdom of God! Simon's name change to Peter hinted at this! Simon, who Jesus called Peter, became a rock. Rocks are stepped on, driven over, kicked, and thrown, In the natural realm, it is NOT desirable to be called a rock. But in the spirit, where it counts for eternity, this is what Jesus had to say about Peter in Matthew chapter 16: ...18"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."... Simon was heard here on earth, but Peter was heard in heaven! The exalted are heard on earth, but the lowly are heard in heaven and favor from heaven is what brings victory on earth!
My Prayer: “Oh Lord, makes us all rocks! We will endure being stepped on, driven over, kicked, and thrown if it means that ultimately, we will share in Your victory!”
Getting back to Paul, I think he heard what Jesus did with Peter and took a hint from his Savior. He became small or little. He became less than. He chose the better thing, which is to be desired by God rather than man. When I think of the New Testament, my first thoughts are of Jesus. My second thoughts are of Paul! I'm sure he at least makes everyone's top ten in that area! What an amazing example for us. The writer of much of the New Testament took the low road and he will be exalted for eternity. In the words of Sid Roth, "Although Paul moved in the power of the Holy Spirit, his life was not easy. In many of the places he visited, the crowds were stirred into hysterical rage against him. He was beaten and imprisoned several times. In one town, he was stoned and left for dead. He was shipwrecked 3 times." The low road isn't easy, but Paul would tell us that it is worth it because Jesus is worth it!
I pray that all of us would see the worthiness of Jesus and choose to leave the Saul spirit, to be desired by man, behind us forever. I pray we will follow Paul, like he followed Christ, and humble ourselves before God! It will be worth it in the end!