"The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.' Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening'." 1 Samuel 3:8-9
I am a stinky counselor.
I've tried to do it. Really I have. I just stink at it. I can't come up with the "Four tiered process to find hope in grief" or "Six irreducible minimums for breaking addictive behaviors" or anything even remotely close. Usually my counsel is something like, "Read the Bible. Do what it says." That's really about all I have to give (except some love, prayers, and a listening ear which is worth plenty I realize). We have some good counselors on our team at The Chapel at CrossPoint - good thing - because if we didn't and I was responsible for all the counseling it would be big trouble.
What is hard to square with this issue of counseling is that it seems to be a part of what the "Pastor package" is supposed to contain. Professional pastor-type people like me are assumed to be able to counsel very well. But what about those of us who can't? Do we need more schooling (like 14 years of it post high school is not enough already?) or more seminars? Worse yet, do we need to pack it up and go find another vocation?
I hope not, and I am at least encouraged to hold onto that because of Eli.
Eli was a poor parent. Just one look at his boys, of whom it was reported that they had no regard for the LORD, would tell you that. Eli might have been a decent priest, but with his house in disarray it was hard to see it very clearly. And Eli wasn't a particularly astute counselor either. For that I am grateful.
Samuel, Eli's young protege, kept coming in and telling Eli that he was showing up because Eli was calling for him. Eli knew he wasn't calling for Samuel, but it took him three times to realize that maybe it was God (I am also glad there are other thick headed people in the Bible). So, with incredible insight and a counselor's acumen, Eli gave Samuel this advice - "Uh, it must be God, so go back and listen for Him." Brilliant.
The reason I like this so much is that it was exactly what was needed. No lectures. No diagrams. No explanation on how the voice of the LORD was supposed to come. Just go listen for God and do what He says. This gives me hope, really, because I think I can handle the ministry of Eli. He simply gave Samuel some instructions that would find Samuel backing into God.
That's really all I want to do in ministry. Find ways to help people stumble onto God. Back into Him. Run headfirst into Him. Whatever. Just get people to Him. So, for all of us non-counselor type people, I think we can figure that out.
Go listen to Him. And do what He says.
