WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

Judges 14:3 “His father and mother replied, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me. She's the right one for me."

Potential is a great thing. Young athletes are often given huge amounts of money based upon their potential alone. Some of them turn into superstars, but many more crash and burn under the immense pressure of stardom. You see, potential in and of its self, is worth very little. If it goes undeveloped or if it is partnered with a lack of discipline and poor decisions it will become a great “might have been”.

Samson was a child of promise from God. God gave Samson’s parents specific instructions on raising Samson and if you read Judges 13 you will find that they were obedient to God up to the time Samson was born; but later on they began to tolerate some things that should have not happened. Those little subtle things can grow into big problems.

Samson was dominated by his attraction to women. Women were his flaw. He would see a beautiful woman and he wanted her. He could care less if she was a foreigner whom God had commanded the Israelites not to marry. He could care less if she was a prostitute. He could care less who she was. The devil knew what to tempt Samson with. Samson had been leading Israel for 20 years when Delilah came along; and after 20 years Samson had still not learned how to conquer his lustful eyes.

Not everyone is dominated by lustful desires. Some people are dominated by lying, others by cheating, and others by stealing, etc… Whatever sinful things dominate you, are you willing to change? Are you willing to get rid of that junk? If not, you are in danger of becoming a “might have been”.

The driving force in Samson’s life was pride. He knew that God had given him special power through his following of his Nazarite vows. He used his power from God in a selfish and prideful way. Now you may be wondering why God would allow that to happen; but I want to tell you that God allows us to make our own decisions.

As believers in Jesus Christ we have been given gifts of the Holy Spirit. We don’t all have the same gifts, but all Christians have been given gifts. Although these gifts are from God, we can misuse them when we allow the flesh to win over the Spirit.

During the entire time of Samson’s rule as judge over Israel, the Philistines (the enemy) were never removed. Samson would fight them off if they made him mad, but beyond that he just let it go. Whatever it is that hinders you as a believer, do you just let it go or do you have victory over it? If you are a New Year’s resolution type of person, but never make it past February; then you are a “might have been”.

What would Samson had been if he would have thrown off those sins that held him in bondage? What would Samson had been if he would have used his gifts from God for God instead of getting himself out of a fight?

Are you a “mighty servant” of the Lord or a “might have been”? God has placed within each of us unlimited potential to become everything he has destined us to be. Don’t partner your potential with negative traits, wrong attitudes, and questionable decisions. Be something great for God.