Marked By Stinginess

# 401 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Sa 30:20-22, “Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, "This is David's spoil." 21 Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man's wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart." (1 Sam 30:20-22) David and his men not only recaptured all that was lost, but they gained the spoil that the Amalekites had taken from their other raids. The spoil was declared to be David's to distribute it as he pleased. As they return to the Brook Besor, the 200 weary men who couldn't continue in the chase of the Amalekites come out to greet David. But there is dissension, as a group of men among them, called “men of Belial” in the King James, want to send the 200 stragglers away with only their wives and children. We have talked about the “children of Belial before, but let's refresh our memory. Children of belial (the devil) are marked by stinginess. They are not willing to share their money or goods with anyone. This is not to be a characteristic of those who follow Christ. Children of God are to be different from the children of the devil. 1Ti 6:18 says, “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,” God has opened up His hand and poured out blessing on you. Will you respond with a clenched fist, seeking to hang on to the blessing for yourself, or will you open your hand of generosity to others? Father, our attitude toward “things” tells us much about whose children we are. Help us to be ready to give and willing to share.