Mistreated: How to Respond

Mistreated? Paybacks or be the better person? What did David do? Check out 1 Sam 24:1-22. #iDevo #YFA #LivingLeadership

I think for most of us there can be times when we have been unfairly mistreated, picked on, or been wronged by people. When that happens it can be easy to want to get paybacks. There is even a saying that, “revenge is a dish best served cold” meaning get someone back when they least expect it and it will hurt the most. The truth is hurting people tend to hurt others, especially those they have been hurt by. As believers what should our response be?

For David, Saul tried to kill him in the court throwing a spear at him. Then chased him down and tried to kill him even bringing 3,000 elite troops. Basically Saul had 3,000 Navy Seals, Army Rangers, or Marine Recon with him. The best of the best, the nation of Israel’s version of our special forces. All with one purpose to capture and kill David not because he had done something wrong but because he was more successful and popular than his leader. David though get’s the perfect opportunity for revenge. With all his soldiers outside the cave, Saul walks up to where David was hiding and goes to the bathroom. He’s so close to the man he has been chasing and trying to kill that David is able to cut off part of his robe without him even knowing it. David decided to be the better person instead of getting revenge.

In the same way we face similar challenges, had we been in David’s shoes most of us would have probably attacked and got our revenge but our challenge as believers is one of taking the higher road. Now this does not mean we should let ourselves get mistreated, trampled over, or not say something when something illegal is going on. Instead it is saying that we have to choose to let God fight our battles instead of trying to fight them on our own. So next time you have to respond to being mistreated ask yourself, do I want to be a leader like David or a leader like Saul.