Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 12:26-31.
“Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and captured the royal city. Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, I have even captured the city of waters. Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and camp against the city and capture it, or I will capture the city myself and it will be named after me.” So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah, fought against it and captured it. Then he took the crown of their king from his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in great amounts. He also brought out the people who were in it, and set them under saws, sharp iron instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brickkiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.” 2 Samuel 12:26-31.
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We can learn wisdom from Joab’s action of deferring the honor to David.
Many people in Joab’s position would seize the honor and glory and all other benefits for only themselves. But, that might not be wise.
Many people work in a corporation or live in a similar situation where they need to be careful of what others think of them. Their bosses may not say anything at the time in which they do something good and seize the honor and glory and other benefits for only themselves, but they may grow secretly jealous and suspicious of them that they may later rebel and try to supplant them. Their bosses may replace or demote them.
But, if they deferred the honor and shared the glory and benefits with their boss, even to the extent of giving most or all of the credit and glory and other benefits to their boss, then they would prove their loyalty and love for their boss and keep their position for a long time and may even get promoted.
Consider what happened to David earlier.
“It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. The women sang as they played, and said,
“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”
Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” 1 Samuel 18:6-9.
We know that Saul later tried to kill David.
So to speak, we need to be careful that we do not “win the battle but lose the war”. We need to not only do our best, but we also need to consider how our actions will affect the feelings of our superiors. To some extent, as God leads us, we need to defer honor and glory and other benefits to our superiors.
“The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.” Proverbs 14:35.
Contentment is a virtue; sharing is a virtue.
“If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:8-9.
“Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.” Proverbs 17:1-2.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 