Tags
Deserve, Generosity, Gift, Grace, Works
A longish snippet today, just to give you some context for the point. David and his men returned to their home town after several days marching, and found that the Amalekites had destroyed it and made off with all their wives, children and livestock.
They set off in hot pursuit, but some became too tired and stopped along the way.
David and the remaining 2/3 of his army were victorious, and we pick up the story as they were on their way home.
What stands out to me is the difference between David’s perspective and that of the ‘evil men and troublemakers’. They had a works-based approach to life; David had a grace-based one.
The ‘baddies’ felt they should distribute the plunder fairly. David felt it should be distributed freely. The reason is in verse 23: “You must not do that with what the Lord has given us.”
David recognised that he had not earned the plunder any more than the men sitting behind at the ravine had. If God had not been with them, no skill, might or expertise would have been sufficient to bring them victory. Yes, they had worked hard, but their success was still a gift from God.
Last week I wrote a piece for the Evangelical Alliance about generosity, and I wish I’d remembered this story then, because it’s a perfect illustration of the heart-change that I think is needed in order to live a truly generous life.
David had it, and I’m doing my best to seek it.