The Looser Grip

The Looser Grip
Words of Faith 12-26-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Samuel 30:21-31
[21] Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. [22] But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go." [23] David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. [24] Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." [25] David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. [26] When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, "Here is a present for you from the plunder of the LORD's enemies." [27] He sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; [28] to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa [29] and Racal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; [30] to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach [31] and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where David and his men had roamed.

It was a fantastic time of restoration. After seeing terrible devastation come upon the town and families of David's followers, they set out to rescue them. The Lord not only restored their families but also recovered a great deal of plunder through the defeat of the Amalekites.
But now there was the dicey matter of how to divide the plunder. David clearly saw this windfall as a blessing from the Lord. However, the men who had actually executed the rescue operation saw it as something they had earned or deserved because of their prominent role. They didn't want the families of the two hundred men who had stayed behind to share in the blessing that had come their way.
Interesting debate, isn't it? Should the two hundred who were too weary to participate in the rescue share in the blessing? David was sure that they should because he understood all these things as having come from God. He even called for a portion to be sent to the elders of Judah back in Israel.
The question posed concerns how tightly we grip the things that the Lord entrusts to us. Do we see the stuff, money, and blessings that come our way as a provision from God or as a sacred blessing to be shared? Do we view things that have been entrusted to us as something we spend or dispose of... or as something that we share and use to bless the people of God?
David had recently spent time away from God. He had tried "reasoning to himself," and it had failed miserably. Life just got more and more confusing when he focused on himself. Now, he was back in a relationship with the Lord and trusted Him. There was no question that he would share with others and view any blessing as something to glorify the Lord.
Have you been struggling with the issue of stuff? David can teach us all something. Care for others. Share with others.

Father God, help me to hold things loosely. Show me how to bless others even when it seems easier to be selfish. Keep me focused on the big picture, the people of God, and their mission. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.