Tuesday, May 1, 2007

not ours.

"My brethern, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us." 1Samuel 30:23

In this chapter, David and four hundred men are successful at regaining what was taken from them. However, the question arises: should the men who stayed back at camp and refused to help be rewarded with the spoil? Obviously, it was unfair. The men who followed David had risked their lives, and on the flip side, those who did not cooperate with David's plan even wanted him to be stoned for allowing them to lose their wives, daughters, servants, and goods in the first place. Yet, despite their original disdain, regardless of their obstinance and rebellion, David does not want to deprive them of the spoil. It's surprising. It's humbling. Is it something we would do? Is it something we could put into practice? How do we do such a thing?

Well, first, David regarded all blessings as the Lord's. Whatever the Lord placed in his life, he realized it remained the Lord's. This mentality stems from the roots of humility. If we fail to realize all is God's, we will consequently became enraged and frustrated with the passing of those things, those people, those circumstances that we receive. And yet, if we do hold fast to the idea that all belongs to Him, we will be like David, Job, and Jesus, when we lose anything. After all, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

Secondly, David was thankful. Instead of comparing himself with the others who refused to fight, he was focused on the fact that God had brought him success. What did it matter how God dealt with the others? It was not for him to inflict judgment; it was entirely up to God. Likewise, we need to always be content, perfectly grateful for what God does in our lives. We need to stop trying to figure out what is fair and what is not. Who cares? Right? Yeah, I know, it's hard, but once we master it with His help, we will live more peacefully, more righteously, and definitely more joyfully.