The Fool and Money
Dear Readers, Sorry for the late post. Just returned from a Vision Trip to Uganda. Back to our walk through 1 Samuel.
Everyone is a fool about something.
The man Nabal is a fool about money in the 25th chapter of 1 Samuel. He thinks his money is all about him and considers the resources in his care are for the sole purpose of pleasures of his life. After the death of Samuel, we are greeted with a man who expresses the exact opposite spirit of the great prophet. In this chapter David and his army protect and care for Nabal's possessions during the time the Philistines are regularly raiding Israel and causing havoc. Where David goes, however, there is peace and prosperity. Most notably here for a man named Nabal. Sadly, Nabal totally disrespects the work of David concerning his property.
The key moment in the chapter is when Nabal pretends feigned ignorance of who David is when he's aware his father's name is Jesse. Then with thankless antagonism, he considers David a runaway servant who's come from nowhere.
1 Samuel 25:10–11 (NLT) “Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
The attitude of Nabal here is sadly the attitude of many Christians toward those who help them, namely the Lord Jesus most of all. Instead of gratitude and generosity, they turn into stingy misers who only think of themselves. The Bible refers to this as foolish.
We will do well to remember Judas' attitude when Mary poured expensive nard on the Lord's feet before his crucifixion. With Lazarus recently raised from the dead and seated at the very same table, Judas sneered in contempt. But John adds the true motive behind Judas' words:
John 12:4–6 (ESV) But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Money can blind you to the true good you have in your life. Instead of Judas enjoying the moment and rejoicing in Lazarus' resurrection and Mary's changed life he could only bemoan what he considered an apparent "waste" of money. Here in 1 Samuel, instead of Nabal thanking David, he totally disregards the work he has done for him.
Many things are more important than money. Many things. The presence of the Lord. The fellowship of friends in Him. The protection and shelter He provides us. These are gifts we should enjoy and then pay forward in generous spirits of liberality with our means.
Nabal will experience the hard truth of a heart shut up with money. He will be overcome and die. But before that happens, we have to take note of what happens to David.
At first, David is ready to kill:
1 Samuel 25:13 (ESV) And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
David plans to wipe out Nabal's house. Why? His dignity has been dishonored and his help for Nabal has been disregarded.
Everyone is a fool about something.
The man Nabal is a fool about money in the 25th chapter of 1 Samuel. He thinks his money is all about him and considers the resources in his care are for the sole purpose of pleasures of his life. After the death of Samuel, we are greeted with a man who expresses the exact opposite spirit of the great prophet. In this chapter David and his army protect and care for Nabal's possessions during the time the Philistines are regularly raiding Israel and causing havoc. Where David goes, however, there is peace and prosperity. Most notably here for a man named Nabal. Sadly, Nabal totally disrespects the work of David concerning his property.
The key moment in the chapter is when Nabal pretends feigned ignorance of who David is when he's aware his father's name is Jesse. Then with thankless antagonism, he considers David a runaway servant who's come from nowhere.
1 Samuel 25:10–11 (NLT) “Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
The attitude of Nabal here is sadly the attitude of many Christians toward those who help them, namely the Lord Jesus most of all. Instead of gratitude and generosity, they turn into stingy misers who only think of themselves. The Bible refers to this as foolish.
We will do well to remember Judas' attitude when Mary poured expensive nard on the Lord's feet before his crucifixion. With Lazarus recently raised from the dead and seated at the very same table, Judas sneered in contempt. But John adds the true motive behind Judas' words:
John 12:4–6 (ESV) But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Money can blind you to the true good you have in your life. Instead of Judas enjoying the moment and rejoicing in Lazarus' resurrection and Mary's changed life he could only bemoan what he considered an apparent "waste" of money. Here in 1 Samuel, instead of Nabal thanking David, he totally disregards the work he has done for him.
Many things are more important than money. Many things. The presence of the Lord. The fellowship of friends in Him. The protection and shelter He provides us. These are gifts we should enjoy and then pay forward in generous spirits of liberality with our means.
Nabal will experience the hard truth of a heart shut up with money. He will be overcome and die. But before that happens, we have to take note of what happens to David.
At first, David is ready to kill:
1 Samuel 25:13 (ESV) And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
David plans to wipe out Nabal's house. Why? His dignity has been dishonored and his help for Nabal has been disregarded.
But there's a woman named Abigail. She will intervene here with David with absolute wisdom. David‘s anger is unrestrained. He does not come across as the David we have come to know. This moment is yet one more example that David has his faults too. But it is Abigail’s reasoned speech to David that brings him back from the edge of madness. In the end he blesses her for these traits and restrains himself in the matter of Nabal’s house.
1 Samuel 25:32–33 (ESV) And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!
Now here's what I thought. Abigail was Nabal's wife! She was in his house constantly. YET Nabal refused to listen to her wisdom. David has ONE conversation with her and it changes him, making him relent from the disaster he intended to bring upon Nabal's house and the bloodguilt he would have brought upon his own life.
Notice the words here of David: "You (Abigail)" have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!"
This is the promise of money... self-salvation. Love for money betrays faith that believes God works FOR US and saves us by His grace and favor. Once again we see in David a receptive heart to the truth of God's Word contrasted by Nabal's foolishness to disregard it.
What are you a fool about? Are you trusting God to bring to pass the desires of your heart or are you working salvation with your own hand and executing much damage in the lives of others around you? Learn here from David, listen to Abigail, trust God to save you and establish you. Wisdom is found in that very place.
1 Samuel 25:32–33 (ESV) And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!
Now here's what I thought. Abigail was Nabal's wife! She was in his house constantly. YET Nabal refused to listen to her wisdom. David has ONE conversation with her and it changes him, making him relent from the disaster he intended to bring upon Nabal's house and the bloodguilt he would have brought upon his own life.
Notice the words here of David: "You (Abigail)" have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!"
This is the promise of money... self-salvation. Love for money betrays faith that believes God works FOR US and saves us by His grace and favor. Once again we see in David a receptive heart to the truth of God's Word contrasted by Nabal's foolishness to disregard it.
What are you a fool about? Are you trusting God to bring to pass the desires of your heart or are you working salvation with your own hand and executing much damage in the lives of others around you? Learn here from David, listen to Abigail, trust God to save you and establish you. Wisdom is found in that very place.
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