Kindness Overcomes Selfishness

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Kindness Overcomes Selfishness

Today's Text: And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. 1 Samuel 25:19

The Message:      The Lord would have the wife render respect unto her husband, but always as it is fit in the Lord. In the character of Abigail, the wife of Nabal, we have an illustration of womanhood after the order of Christ, while her husband illustrates what a man may become who yields himself to the control of Satan. When David was a fugitive from the face of Saul, he had camped near the possessions of Nabal and had protected the flocks and the shepherds of this man from all depredation while in Carmel. In a time of need David sent messengers to Nabal with a courteous message, asking for food for himself and his men, and Nabal answered with insolence, returning evil for good and refusing to share his abundance with his neighbors....      Nabal accused David and his men falsely in order to justify himself in his selfishness, and represented David and his followers as runaway slaves.... One of the young men in the employ of Nabal, fearing that evil results would follow Nabal's insolence, came and stated the case to Nabal's wife, knowing that she had a different spirit from her husband and was a woman of great discretion. He set forth the true character of Nabal as he presented the difficulties to her, saying, "Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him."      Abigail saw that something must be done to avert the result of Nabal's fault, and that she must take the responsibility of acting immediately, without the counsel of her husband. She knew that it would be useless to speak to him, for he would receive her proposition only with abuse and contempt. He would remind her that he was the lord of his household, that she was his wife and therefore in subjection to him and must do as he should dictate.... She gathered together such stores as she thought best to conciliate the wrath of David, for she knew he was determined to avenge himself for the insult he had received....      Abigail's course in this matter was one that God approved, and the circumstance revealed in her a noble spirit and character.... Abigail met David with respect, showing him honor and deference, and pleaded her cause eloquently and successfully. While not excusing her husband's insolence, she still pleaded for his life. She also revealed the fact that she was not only a discreet woman, but a godly woman, acquainted with the works and ways of God in David.-Manuscript 17, 1891 (Manuscript Releases 21:213, 214).

Commentary: My friend, in the story of Abigail and Nabal we see contrasted the spirit of Satan and the Spirit of Christ.  Each of us has the opportunity to reflect one of these two spirits.  In the things that we allow to occupy our minds throughout the day will determine which spirit we are of.  It may not be apparent on the surface, but when we are brought into straight places, our true characters will be revealed. In the last days all will be tried to see what spirit we are of, either the Spirit of Christ, or the spirit of Satan.  It is a law of life that we are changed into the image of that which we behold.  If we are daily partaking of the Divine nature of Christ we will day by day be transformed into His image, and in like manner if we are partaking of the character of the world our natures will reflect it. The doctrine of the trinity presents before us a false picture of God.  It portrays God as a trinity, a three in one god in place of the One true God of the Bible.  The Spirit of God is depicted as a separate being from the Father and the Son and as such becomes another mediator between God and man, while the Scriptures tell us "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5). The false image of the trinity comes from the adversary of souls, the master deceiver and as such cannot lead us unto salvation.  Those who are thus transformed into its image have an outward show of righteousness, but in the testing time its true nature will be revealed.  Jesus said in Matthew 15:9 "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."  When we worship God after the commandments of men we do worship Him in vain, for they cannot sanctify us. My friend, now is the time for us surrender our lives to the One true God through our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the One true God.  May you study to shew thyself approved of God today. God bless,

Video of the Week The Paradigm Shift - Part 1 - The Trinity Doctrine Exposed A powerful message from Nader Mansour on how the trinity doctrine became part of the Seventh-day Adventist church.