Last week we saw how King Saul
didn't even recognize who David was, even though David had been
playing the harp for him and helping him to get rid of the
distressing spirit tormenting him. And we learned from this lesson
that we should continue to do good, even though people might not
even recognize our efforts. But God honors us, as He did David.
After defeating Goliath Saul didn't
want David to go home anymore. He wanted David to stay with him.
David met Saul's son, Jonathan, and they became the best of
friends. They loved one another with a true brotherly love.
Jonathan even took off his own robe and armor and gave it to David.
Jonathan could see the work of the Lord in David.
The Bible also tells us that
everywhere David went he was:
"…accepted in the sight of all
the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants." 1 Samuel
18:5
God gave David favor from all
sides. He gave him favor inside the royal family, outside with the
people of the Kingdom as well as inside the palace with the King's
servants. Everywhere he went he received favor. But what stood out
for me was that the Bible tells us that David behaved wisely. This
is wonderful to read.
David was still very young.
Suddenly he became a national hero. He became someone the whole
army looked up to. He was asked to come and live within the palace
and even there the King's son gave him his robe and armor. All the
people loved him. Plus he knew that he had been secretly anointed
by Samuel to be the next king of Israel. David could easily have
had all of this go to his head. He could easily have thought that
he had 'arrived' and that he was now superior to others. He could
have become proud and forgotten all that the Lord had done for
him.
Yet, none of this happened. The
Bible says that he behaved wisely. We can learn from that. We can
also so easily become proud of our achievements. We can easily find
our solace in it. We can start believing that we have earned the
position that we are in at work, that we are healthy because we eat
right and we exercise, that our children excel all because of all
the extra lessons we paid for them to take, that we reach new
heights in sport all because we train so hard and so I can go on.
Yes we must work hard, yes we should eat right and exercise, but at
the end of the day Who gives us the health, the passion, the
energy, the talent and the IQ to do all of this?
We should never become proud of our
achievements and think that we have arrived. God should be honored
and praised through it all. He gave us talents, health, a high IQ
etc., so that we can excel in order for people to notice us giving
our testimony of Him. He wants His children to excel in order to
draw others closer to Him as well. He doesn't want us to excel
simply to glorify our own efforts.
Think about this. You will see that
it is true in so many aspects of our lives. Our egos get in the way
so many times. Jesus came so that we can crucify our ego and that
we can now live fully in the spiritual realm glorifying God and
leading others to Him. Success is only there because God ordained
it to be so. We can and should do our best, but the honor is always
His. And He in turn honors that, as we will see further in the life
of David.
Father, thank you for providing us
with everything that we need to succeed. We glorify You and we
honor You. Without You we won't even be able to get out of bed.
Thank you so much for the honor of serving You. Please grant us the
wisdom to live according to Your plan for our lives and to testify
wherever You want us to. Amen