11. Glorify God

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

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