*I am continually astounded by the timelessness and timeliness of God’s Word. This devotion was written on August 16, 2018, and it was addressed to the staff of Centennial. However, in the blink of an eye, we find ourselves in May of 2020 with all our “works” stripped away. May God convict us of our sin, and may he comfort us with his grace—and all from 1 Samuel 30.
“Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.”
Saul has been rejected as king of Israel by God through the prophet Samuel. David has been anointed. Saul still reigns and is seeking to destroy David. David hides, Saul seeks, and the climax of Saul’s destructive spiral is upon us. Then 1 Samuel 30 happens. In this little chapter, David’s city is ransacked, his wives stolen, and David subsequently pursues and overtakes his enemies. In the middle of this, “a statute and a rule for Israel” is created (1 Samuel 30:25). What are we to do with this little appendix in the story of David and Saul? I would ask each of you to do at least this: take heed of the danger of pride.
It is clear to me that each one of you have been gifted by God and placed in positions of service at Centennial ARP Church. Y’all are those who accompanied David on the raid (1 Samuel 30:10). Even under the burdens of a trek across barren land and through difficult waters, God has blessed y’all with an endurance to allow continued movement forward in service for God’s kingdom. Each of you have a station of service beyond others in the church—beyond those currently “too exhausted to cross the brook” (1 Samuel 30:10). But there is a danger. My dear Christian brothers and sisters take heed of that lurking sin of pride. How easy is it for us to fall into the pit of greed and pride? How easy is it for those sinful thoughts to cross our minds? Look what I’ve done. I deserve more recognition for this. I’m the one who did all this. Don’t they know how much time I spent working? “Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, ‘Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered’” (1 Samuel 30:22).
But David immediately corrects these wicked and worthless fellows, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us” (1 Samuel 30:23). We must always remember that it is our heavenly Father who gives us all things. God gives us all our blessings and spoils in ministry and life. Jesus utterly humbled himself by taking on flesh, living a life not for himself (but for his people), and ultimately sacrificing himself in humiliating death (Phil. 2:1-11). David’s little statute holds fast to the reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—to the humility that accompanies God’s people.
Pride has no place in ministry and life. Greed kills grace. Sinful desire destroys profitable service. Hold fast to the beautiful statute and rule that humbles the strong and lifts up the weak. In this shall we glorify God in continued service at Centennial and in life. “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Take heed of the danger of pride. Blessings to each of you.