NEW Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Who Says You Can’t Get Along With Everyone?”
2 Samuel 16:5-14
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8 The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” 9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” 11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” 13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
Here are a few questions for you to dwell on: Is there someone at your church who annoys or bothers you, either now or in the past? What has been your heart’s response to that person? Were you distracted from worship because of them, or were you driven toward the Lord to pray for them? Lastly, have you considered that you are, or have been, that annoying or bothersome person to someone else?
King David’s response to Shimei in this passage is extremely admirable and is something we can model in light of these questions. Shimei, seeing a considerably weakened David fleeing from his seditious son Absalom, who had seized control of the throne, not only harassed David but also assaulted him and his officials by throwing rocks at them. In any era, including the present day, it would have been common for a king to execute anyone showing that level of disrespect, but David showed extraordinary grace, even stating that the Lord had commanded Shimei to curse him.
I admit that there have been people at my church who have annoyed me in the past, and I wish I could say that I was always driven to show grace and pray for them. As members of the body of Christ, we should not base our love for one another on the social norms of the world. Even if I have nothing in common with you except Jesus, He is more than enough for us to have a loving relationship without struggling to tolerate one another. But even when we are annoyed or bothered by someone’s presence, we must be humble enough to recognize that we might also be that annoying person whom God is using to build another person’s patience!
May our patience with one another demonstrate what Jesus wills for the church body: “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
Prayer: Lord, please teach me to see others through Your lens and not my own. Fill me with Your love so that I will pray for others, even those for whom I may not naturally want to pray. Humble me to recognize that I, too, may be someone who is hard to love, and help me continue to show grace to those who may bother me. May our fellowship bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 30-31