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.