1 Samuel 25:17
“Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.”
Irrespective of whatever else we may be, we must never be beyond reach. We have touched on this theme before in a previous devotion but it is so important and that’s why the Lord is bringing it back again.
Be approachable. Be reachable. No matter how successful you have become, never be someone that people cannot talk to you or share their thoughts with you. Isolation from regular people is the beginning of your destruction.
God loves us and will send us help through people. Don’t expect to hear God all by yourself. Expect to hear God through people. If your heart is simple and humble, you will always hear from the Lord because He is always talking, and often through others.
Nabal’s servant described him as a scoundrel because nobody could speak to him. The NIV translated the word scoundrel as “wicked.” Nabal was a wicked scoundrel for only one reason – he was not approachable. That’s a new definition for me!
If people are afraid of you, you are a scoundrel. If people are put off by your presence, then you are a scoundrel. No matter how spiritual you think you are, you must be easily accessible if your spirituality is legitimate.
So, let’s make this a new goal for our walk with God. Let’s measure our spiritual development by how much at ease people are in our presence. And one way to make this happen is to actively recreate our environment. Invite people in.
David would have destroyed Nabal and his household simply because Nabal had no-one to talk to him. Nabal made some bad decisions and people knew it but nobody could tell him. We all make wrong decisions. But can people speak to us about them?
My prayer is that I will always be easily reachable by those around me. My safety is in the people closest to me. I know I hear God, but I want to hear God more through people. Is this your prayer as well? Please, don’t be a scoundrel.