David

May 19

1 Samuel 30:1-3, 16-25

The raid

One day, when David and his men got back to the town where they were staying, they found that the Amalekites had attacked the town, burned everything, and taken the women and children. David prayed and asked the Lord, “Shall we go after the raiders and will we catch them?” The Lord answered and told David to go after them.

So David and his men set out to find the Amalekites, but along the way, some of David’s men were too exhausted to carry on and stayed behind. The others went on and attacked the raiders, taking all their possessions. They also rescued their wives and children.

When those who had gone out to fight got back, they didn’t want to share what they had brought back with those who had stayed behind. But David said, “Everyone must get the same; those who guarded the supplies must get the same as those who went into battle.”

Is everyone’s work for the Lord equally important?

One would think that David’s defeat of the Amalekites was far more important than looking after sheep? Surely, a shepherd’s task of guarding sheep is not as important as defending people against their enemies. Yet to God the most important thing is not the size of the task, but whether we are obedient and faithful. God was just as pleased with David while he was a shepherd as when he was out fighting Israel’s enemies.

Each of us has been given a task in God’s kingdom. When we do it well, God trusts us with another, maybe bigger and more difficult task. When David had proved his faithfulness and courage by looking after his father’s sheep, the Lord knew that he was ready for another task—looking after His people.

Verse for today

The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:8