WEDNESDAY September 4, 2019
Taking Matters into Our Own Hands
So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.”
1 Samuel 25:20-22
David had made up his mind; in anger he would kill Nabal and all the other innocent men in his household. Nabal had paid David evil for good. Nabal would get what he deserved. David was ready to dish out death in retribution for Nabal’s foolish words. He was ready to take matters into his own hands. Honestly, if it had not been for Abigail’s intercession, David would have degraded himself with his ungodly actions. Think about it. Abigail was not even his wife!
Most men realize it is easy for them to quickly become angry; their anger can become a big problem. Always resist the temptation to lash out in anger, because what is done in anger will never turn out well. The Apostle James advised believers how to handle challenging situations:
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20 ESV).
James also told Christians that anger never produces what is right. It is better to allow God to work in the circumstances. Think back. Have you ever taken matters into your own hands? It is easy to do, especially when filled with anger. Do you remember what the end results were?
O believer, if you take your business into your own hands, you will soon be in trouble. The old puritan said, “He that carves for himself will soon cut his finger.” If we leave all our matters temporal as well as spiritual, in the hand of God we shall lack no good thing…
~C. H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!