Make a mistake already!

Reading about King David/King Saul in the Bible right now. Today's readings had the section where Saul, three of his son's and most of his army died in battle with the Philistines.

What strikes me about David & Saul is this: both of them made mistakes, but Saul's direct disobedience -- the first time was enough, after that God said, ENOUGH! and annointed David and started messing with Saul's mind -- was the difference. So, anytime that God wants me to do something, I'd better do it, right?

I'm a cautious man. I'm not such a ninny that I can't make a choice, or stand up for myself or things like that, but I'm not the type to jump into a situation if there is time for reflection and examination. Major purchases take me some time, let's just say. I can see my caution reflected to my in my 9-year-old son. He's the same way. No high dive for him (I've gotten past this one, but let's just say I was older than 9 when it happened) and trying new food is a challenge (he turns down even candy he's never had before).

But caution, while useful in some ways, has it's limits. I think the reason God said that David was a man after His own heart was because he made decisions and lived with them. He made huge mistakes, sure, but he was a huge public figure on his way to immortality through Scripture. This is Jesus' ancestor. Jesus read about David, that's how famous he is. Did Jesus read about David Lee Roth? Michael Jordan? So, if you are as big of a deal as David, you make equivalently large mistakes and when the dust settles and God forgives you, you gain equivalently large authority to make bigger mistakes.

I say mistakes, I believe that God wants us to feel free to make mistakes -- that's probably why He so freely forgives -- so that we may find solutions that work, but I think that God really wants us free to make mistakes so that we are bold enough to find working solutions without being mistake prone.