DCLM Daily Manna 31 August 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Sweet Dividends Of Friendship
TOPIC: Sweet Dividends Of Friendship
TEXT: 1 Chronicles 12:16-22
16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
19 And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.
22 For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
KEY VERSE: “For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.” – (1 Chronicles 12:22)
MESSAGE:
The first president of the United States of America, the Bible-believing George Washington, declared in 1783: “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.”
David’s relationship with people establishes Washington’s insight. Although he enjoyed the fidelity of family and the loyalty of some 600 associates who stuck to him as he fled from Saul, the son of Jesse began to get more old friends added to him when he became the king following the death of Saul. The Bible records in the text that several hitherto estranged acquaintances initiated moves to return to David. The reason was that he leaned on the grace of heaven to treat all he accosted with respect and the fear of God.
At a time he was grieving for the seizure of his wives and the burning of his property and that of his warriors, David made friends with a foe and fed him. When some of his warlords rebelled against his decision to share the spoils of war with those who were not at the battlefield, David ignored them and let the booty go round. He gave succour to those in debt, distress and discontentment. David nurtured them as “plants of slow growth”. Finally, “day by day there came to David to help him, until it was great host, like the host of God.”
The one who would attract friends to himself is the one who has the mind of heaven. He must show himself friendly and willing to serve others as did our Lord Jesus Christ. By so doing, he will enjoy the spiritual and physical dividends of true friendship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Friendship is sweet with Christ, our ultimate Friend.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 68-71
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
