Battling Selfishness

This devotion was taken from a book of devotions that my daughter, Megan Kimbrough, and I wrote years ago. The book is titled "Dancing Like a Shepherd Boy, Fighting Like a King." It was designed as a flip book for pre-teens. One half of the book was about the victories (dances) in David's life. The other half was about his struggles. Enjoy this devotion about one of his struggles – selfishness.

Sword of the Spirit

But David said, "No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy.  Do you think anyone will listen to you when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment."  From then on David made this a law for all of Israel, and it is still followed.

David's Battle:

David and his men defeated their enemy and were about to divide the stuff they had gained in the battle.  This was how it was done back then.  Whoever won the battle got to keep all of the "spoils" of battle – the stuff that used to belong to the people from the other side.  This time, the guys who had fought with David felt like they deserved more than the men who had stayed behind and guarded their equipment.  It just made sense to them.  But it didn't make sense to David.  He felt that everyone should "share and share alike."  This was a biblical principal that became law because of David.  When he got back to Ziklag, he sent part of the stuff they had won to the leaders of Judah who were his friends.  He also sent gifts to the leaders of every town where he and his followers he had stayed, as a special 'thank you.'  He wasn't selfish.  He didn't hoard everything for himself.  He knew that sharing was the best plan for everyone.

Strategic Questions:

Is there anything that you just don't like to share?
Why do you suppose David felt like everyone had a right to share in the stuff they collected – even those who didn't fight?
How would you feel if you were one of David's warriors?

Putting On Your Armor:

Man!  This story steps on a few toes, doesn't it?!?!  It's one thing to share our stuff when we want to – it's another thing to share it because someone tells us we have to!  Has that ever happened to you – you get a new shirt or a pair of jeans – and your sister or brother wants to borrow them?  "It's mine!" we want to argue.  Forget sharing!  After all, they might mess it up, right?  But David understood that sharing was a godly thing.  His generous spirit made him many friends and it also helped him remember that material possessions weren't the most important things in his life.  No matter how many battles he won, no matter how much stuff he collected – the people in his life were always more important.

S.O.S. (Speaking to Our Savior in prayer)

Dear Lord,

I confess, I've been a little selfish.  Please give me a spirit of generosity like David did.  Take away any selfishness or stinginess.  Show me how to give of myself.  I want to be generous like David was.  Help me to learn from his example.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Which Side Are You On?  (Thought for the Day)

Which is better – to give or to receive?