Seize the Moment – Day 786
Give Generously with a Clear Conscience!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, May 12.
Have you ever been exceedingly generous to a person, church, or charity only to wonder later if what they did with your generosity was the right thing or a good stewardship of your trust?
Sandwiched between chapters of war and conquest, today’s chapter stands out as a breath of fresh air as David, moved by covenant faithfulness to Jonathan, blessed Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, the crippled son of Jonathan. In 2 Samuel 9:9-11, David entrusted the care of Saul’s estate to Ziba:
Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.
Did David go too far in bestowing royal favor upon Mephibosheth? Was Ziba trustworthy of such a large stewardship responsibility? The answers to these questions are not clear as 2 Samuel 16:1-4 portrays Mephibosheth as being disloyal while Ziba comes across as a faithful servant, whereas, 2 Samuel 19:24-30 does the opposite, portraying Mephibosheth as the faithful one, a victim of Ziba’s duplicity. Regardless of what they did with David’s favor and generosity, what is clear is that David acted with a clear conscience as he honored his word to Saul and kept his covenant to Jonathan.
Seize the moment and give generously with a clear conscience. You are only responsible to do what God has put on your heart to do. Surrender the results to Him!