Daily Devotional for Saturday, August 19

Presents for Friends

“And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD,” 1 Samuel 30:26.

A generous heart and a giving spirit come from an acknowledgment that all we have comes from God. Once we recognize all we possess has been given to us by the Lord, then we will be willing to submit to His 
leading on how He intends us to use it for His honor and glory. An example of this can be seen in the members of the church in Jerusalem. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32).

David had a generous heart. He had been victorious against the Amalekites and had taken a great spoil. He had recovered all they had previously taken including their flocks, herds, cattle and much more. David could have easily retained all the spoils for himself, but he decided to bless his people and nation by sending presents to his friends. He had been blessed in the cities in which he had visited oftentimes before and 
desired to be a blessing to them as well. He knew God had given him the victory as well as the spoils of the battle, so he used them to be a blessing to others.

All we have has been given to us by our great God. Our jobs, possessions, houses, lands and bank account, whether small or great, belong to God. Let us be thankful and use the gifts God has given us to bless the lives of other people. It will bring joy and blessings to our lives.

REFLECTION: “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it” (Proverbs 3:27)

Darla Goodrum