1 Samuel 28-31

"Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, 'Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.'

David replied, 'No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.'"

(Story recap) While David and his men were at the battle field, their town was destroyed by Amalekites. They burned their town and took everything, including their wives and children. David, with the blessing from God, went after the Amalekites and retrieved all that was stolen. But two hundred of his men had to stay behind, because they were too exhausted. (End recap)

It's funny to me how whenever I come across people that are jerks in the bible, God always reminds me that I am just like them. Before David left to fight the Amalekites, he asked God, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" "Pursue them,' he (God) answered. 'You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue." So they beat the Amalekites because of God, not because of their abilities. David was aware of this, but not some of his men. They pretty much thought they were better than the men that stayed behind. They wanted to be recognized that they went and fought, so that they deserve more of the recovered plunder.

How often do we do this in our lives, if not outwardly, then, in our hearts? We love to be recognized and get credit for things. We seem to do this more to the people that we are closest to. In a relationship, if there is something that needs to be done but the other person is too exhausted to help, are we willing to pick up their slack? (Doing the dishes, taking out the trash, watching the kids, walking the dog, etc.) And if we do help out, do we do it humbly, or in our hearts, do we keep tabs on all the times we helped out and they didn't?

How often must we be reminded to love others as Jesus loved us. We are all very much natural hypocrites. Let's be thankful and rejoice this day that we are loved by Jesus. Let's be reminded that all that we have are gifts from him. We should not seek credit or pat ourselves on the back for anything that we do, but in all things, be thankful unto the Lord our God:)