I Samuel 30
20 Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, "This is David's spoil."
21 Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.
22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man's wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart."
NKJV
At this point David and his men are not only satisfied but also joyful: they have gained the victory in a situation of injustice!
But on their way back to the town they come to the brook where they had had to leave the two hundred who had been too exhausted to go with them. What would be their attitude to their fellow soldiers?
These men decided to be stingy in victory. These were their brothers with whom they were accustomed going to war. Yet when this situation gave them an opportunity to be generous in victory, they could not rise to a new level of maturity.
First, when they suffered the loss of their loved ones and possessions, they took the immature stance of wanting to blame David and stone him, when he was the only one who had the faith and courage to get them through this successfully.
Then, when this David leads them to victory, instead of being generous to their brothers, they continued with childish stinginess.
Blaming and stinginess in victory are marks of someone stuck in captivity, who is not yet prepared to move into a life purpose and be truly victorious.
Prayer:
Father, today I give up blaming others for whatever is wrong in my life. I want to grow up into adulthood.
Today I also give up stinginess towards those who are in my life daily. I want to grow up into adulthood.
Thanks for a new focus and perspective,
in Jesus' name,
Amen.
LB stands for "The Living Bible", by Tyndale House Publishers
NKJV stands for "The New King James Bible",
by Thomas Nelson Publishers |
