GIVING YOUR BEST SHOT

1. Giving Your Best Shot

a) Featured Scripture text

2 Kings 13:14-19 

Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" 

And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and arrows." So he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Draw the bow," and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

And he said, "Open the window eastward," and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot," and he shot. 

And he said, "The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them." 

And he said, "Take the arrows," and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground with them." 

And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times."

2 Kings 13:24-25 

When Hazael king of Syria died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

b) Foods for thought

@1. If you give something your best shot, you do it as well as you possibly can. In other words, you are not only doing your best but your very best!

@2. Why was Elisha angry when Joash king of Israel shot 3 times and stopped? Was the king of Israel ever thought of total annihilation for his enemy Syria? No! He didn't catch it in the first place until Elisha revealed it to him later. Therefore, the king of Israel fell short of the complete victory.

c) Do you know that doing your very best is giving your best shot? What does the Bible say?

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Titus 2:7

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.

Proverbs 10:4-5

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

Titus 3:1-2

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

2 Timothy 2:6-7

It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.