is there not a cause?

1 Samuel 17
   People sometimes remark, "I guess I am still here for a reason." A reason for being, isn't that what we strive after? Seeking and finding our purpose in life gives us motivation and a reason for living. Sometimes it takes a while before we understand our purpose, but we all have one.
   In our text, we read the familiar account of David's battle with Goliath. Tucked away in this narrative we find the reason David killed a giant; it was because David fought a giant! But there are a couple of other motivating factors involved that led David into this memorable battle.
    The most spoken of reason is that David was offended at Goliath's blasphemy of Israel's God, Jehovah. It was primarily to that end that David went into battle with Goliath. While this was an honorable and just cause, what is often overlooked is another motivating factor. Before David's challenge to fight Goliath, he asked "What shall be done for the man that kills this Philistine?" The reply found in verse 27 refers us back to verse 25..."the king will enrich him...give him his daughter and make his father's house free (from taxation) in Israel." Talk about motivation! This was incentive enough to encourage further involvement besides his being appalled that no one in Israel would seek to avenge the name of their God.
    What moves us to do what we do, whether it be for personal gain or God's glory? What serves to answer the question as to our purpose in life? What is the end result that gives cause to what we do day in and day out?
   Personal motive may have to do with simply making a living in order to provide for our families. This is admirable, commendable and honorable.  Spiritually, our motive might be to serve God and our fellow man, for His glory. This too, is noteworthy.
    Whatever our reasons, we all need an 'end result' to our purpose. For the Apostle Paul, it was to finish well the course God had laid for him, so that having finished well, he might be approved (1Cor. 9:19-27). His last written words to Timothy reflect his accomplished goal. (See 2Timothy 4:6-8).
     Are we not all here for the same purpose? May God "enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may know what is the hope of His calling..." Ephesians 1:18.
     The song that comes to mind is, "Take My Life and Let It Be". It was written by Francis Havergal in 1874. The first verse reads, "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee..." Contemplate it, won't you? Such is our greatest cause.