Behaving Wisely Is The Standard

Sometimes we let our behavior be dictated by others behavior.  Whatever others find acceptable, we find acceptable.  David decided to be different than those around him.  Read I Samuel 18:30 -

“Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.”

David chose to behave more wisely than all the other servants.  He could have taken advantage of being the mighty warrior and enjoy the prizes of war.  He could have become full of pride and bragged about his great warrior deeds.  He could have pushed his weight around as the leader.  He could have sought to over throw King Saul and take over the throne.  Yet, unlike other great warriors throughout history, he chose to continue to serve King Saul, even when Saul had previously tried to kill him.  David didn’t just do what everyone else did.  He made behaving wisely the standard.  As a result, he was rewarded with being highly esteemed.

What an encouragement to be rewarded in such a way.  His choice to be different and honor God and behave wisely was difficult, but he was rewarded over and over again throughout his life.  So even though it may be difficult to behave wisely and differently than those around you, be encouraged and remember that God will reward you in only the way He can reward you.

Behaving Wisely In All Your Ways

We continue our look at David behaving wisely with I Samuel 18:14-

“And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him.

Even after David was rewarded by Saul and had gained his new position of leadership that provided plenty of opportunity for fame, fortune and power, David continued to behave wisely.  Not only did he behave wisely, but he behaved wisely in all his ways.  He didn’t just behave wisely in front of the King or his men, but in all his ways.  This meant that no matter where David was at or what he was doing that he behaved wisely.  He didn’t have moments where he acted like the court jester/fool and behave unwisely.  It wasn’t his circumstances or the people around him that was influencing him to behave wisely.  It was his relationship with the Lord.  David had integrity.  As a result of his decision to behave wisely in all his ways, he was rewarded in even a better way than King Saul had rewarded him.  He was rewarded with the Lord being with him.

What a blessing to know that the Lord would be with you.  We can gain great instruction from David’s example.  Behave wisely in all our ways and be blessed with the Lord being with you.

Behaving Wisely Has Its Rewards

David, the man after God’s own heart, was such a great example for us. His humanness and love for the Lord always showed. His life gives us hope that we can make it through anything. It gives us hope that God will continue loving us no matter what sin we commit. He is our example of how to praise the Lord no matter what is going on in our lives. Last, but not least, he was our example on how important it is to behave wisely. In I Samuel 18 we read:

“5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”

As a result of David behaving wisely, he is rewarded. King Saul sets him a position of leadership and all the people accepted him. David could be trusted. His behavior, words and decisions were deemed wise and gave him respect. People prefer to follow leaders who behave wisely. No one respects a fool or follows a fool. If they do, it is for a very short time. We see this all the time when watching famous people who mouth off or do stupid things. In the end that person will only be rewarded with being remembered for that foolish word or action they did. Whereas, someone like David is remembered for being a man after God’s own heart who behaved wisely. Which way would you rather be remembered? Show great wisdom and be rewarded for behaving wisely.

Behaving Wisely Is The Standard

Sometimes we let our behavior be dictated by others behavior.  Whatever others find acceptable, we find acceptable.  David decided to be different than those around him.  Read I Samuel 18:30 -

“Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.”

David chose to behave more wisely than all the other servants.  He could have taken advantage of being the mighty warrior and enjoy the prizes of war.  He could have become full of pride and bragged about his great warrior deeds.  He could have pushed his weight around as the leader.  He could have sought to over throw King Saul and take over the throne.  Yet, unlike other great warriors throughout history, he chose to continue to serve King Saul, even when Saul had previously tried to kill him.  David didn’t just do what everyone else did.  He made behaving wisely the standard.  As a result, he was rewarded with being highly esteemed.

What an encouragement to be rewarded in such a way.  His choice to be different and honor God and behave wisely was difficult, but he was rewarded over and over again throughout his life.  So even though it may be difficult to behave wisely and differently than those around you, be encouraged and remember that God will reward you in only the way He can reward you.