Called out! (Part 1)
2 Samuel 12:7-8
Recall from earlier posts that God sends Nathan to confront King David about his behavior with Bathsheba and Uriah. Nathan begins by using a parable about about a rich man who took the one valuable possession of a poor man. David is outraged at the rich man’s behavior, calling for his punishment, demonstrating he still knows right from wrong. Now, Nathan uses David’s outrage to convict him:
Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. (2 Sam. 12:7-8)
Through Nathan, God is showing his disappointment in David’s actions. He does this by likening David to the rich man in the parable, then pointing out all that God has given David. And look at what God has done! God protected David from Saul, helped him win battles, acquire possessions, and lead a nation. And, God was willing to give or help David even more. God is pointing out that King David’s actions, just like the rich man, show a lack of appreciation for the blessings he’s received.
Sometimes, in our families and family businesses, when we are defending our own inappropriate behavior or trying to justify how we’ve treated others, we also look past all the blessings we’ve received. We focus on what we don’t have. We take for granted our business or financial success, our good health, or our personal standard of living. We forget all of the ways that God has helped us. We supplant our control, or our behavior, for God’s providence, and in doing so we demonstrate a lack of appreciation for God’s role in our lives. The first step in holding us accountable - in calling us out - is reminding us of how richly blessed we are!
Have you ever been “called out” by someone else because of your blindness or ingratitude? What blessings in your life have you taken for granted?