Lessons On Living

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 1 Samuel 26:23

God's Payday

1 Samuel 26:23

"May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed."

God's Payday

After serving for 40 years on the African mission field, Henry C. Morrison returned home by boat. On that same boat, returning from one of his big-game hunts in Africa, was Theodore Roosevelt. Upon docking in New York, President Roosevelt received a great fanfare. Bands were playing, crowds were excitedly trying to get a glimpse of the famous president, and reporters were there to take down his every word. No one, however, was there to meet Henry Morrison and his wife. As he left the docks, he felt quite dejected. After all, Morrison thought, I should get some recognition for forty years in the Lord's service. It was then that his wife reminded him, "But Henry, you're not home yet."

David knew that God someday will repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness. This realization prevented David from slaying Saul when he had the chance. He could have taken advantage of Saul's helplessness, but instead he did what was right. David chose the way of righteousness and faithfulness.

You can be sure that God is no man's debtor. When we walk in righteousness and faithfulness, we can be sure that God will repay. It may happen on earth, but most certainly our greatest rewards will be when we get to heaven. If we seek to do what is right in God's sight and to serve Him faithfully wherever He calls us, we can safely leave the rewards to Him. God will never disappoint us.

If you are discouraged by a lack of recognition or appreciation, remember that God will repay your righteousness and faithfulness. Even if He waits until you get to heaven, you can be confident that someday will be payday. Remember, you aren't home yet!

God will have a payday someday.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12 Jeremiah 1:6 Joshua 14:6-14 2 Samuel 5:3-4

Age is No Excuse

2 Samuel 5:3-4

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

Age Is No Excuse

Someone once defined middle age as "a brief period of time between being too young to do something and being too old to want to." And there's truth to that. It seems we spend the first part of our lives being told, "No, you're too young to date. You're too young to drive. You're too young to get married." Then we spend the latter years of our lives being told, "No, you're too old to start a new career. You're too old to go back to school. You're too old to live alone." In American society, age is often a critical factor.

I suspect when David began to reign at the age of 30 some said, "David, you're too young to be king. We need someone older." By the time he had ruled for 40 years and reached the respectable age of 70, others were probably saying, "David, you're too old to be king over Israel. It's time to turn it over to someone younger." But in God's sight, age is not really an issue.

Scripture indicates that God uses the very young. The prophet Jeremiah said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth" (Jer. 1:6), but God used him anyway. Timothy, too, must have ministered at a very young age, because Paul admonished him, "Let no one despise your youth" (1 Tim. 4:12). On the other hand, there were men like Caleb, who at the age of 85 could still claim, "I wholly followed the Lord" (Josh. 14:6-14). The apostle John continued to minister and, according to tradition, wrote the Book of Revelation in his elder years.

Is someone telling you that you're too young to serve the Lord? Don't believe it. Is someone telling you that you're too old to respond to God's call? Forget it. With God, age is never an excuse. Don't follow their advice; follow your heart.

Age is no issue with an ageless God.

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[nChrist]

Title: Dealing With Disappointments
Book: Lessons on Living From David
Author: Woodrow Kroll

2 Samuel 7:12-13

"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."

Dealing With Disappointments

Two paraplegics were in the news at about the same time. Kenneth Wright, 24, was a high school football star and later an avid wrestler. A broken neck sustained in a wrestling match in 1979 left him paralyzed from the chest down. The former athlete prevailed upon two friends to take him in his wheelchair to a wooded area where they left him alone with a twelve-gauge shotgun. After they left, he committed suicide.

The second paraplegic was Jim McGowan. At the age of 19, Jim was stabbed and also left paralyzed from his chest down. But he made news when he successfully completed a parachute jump. Jim lives alone, cooks his meals, washes his clothes and cleans his house. He has written three books, and he did the photography for America’s first book on the history of wheelchair sports. Two men with major disappointments: one chose to view life positively, the other didn’t.

David also had a major disappointment. He had his heart set on building a house for the Lord. But God said no. David could not, but his son Solomon would. David chose to respond to that disappointment by focusing on the positive. He thanked and praised God for the good things He was going to do in his life and that of his family (2 Sam. 7:18-29).

Disappointments always give us a choice. We can concentrate on what’s wrong, or we can find the silver lining. One way leads to despair, the other to fulfillment.

Are you focusing on the negative? Look instead at the way God is blessing you in spite of that disappointment. See His hand of good in everything that happens to you—even if it’s different from what you planned.

What you focus on is what you get.

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[nChrist]

Title: Show a Little Kindness
Book: Lessons on Living From David
Author: Woodrow Kroll

2 Samuel 9:1

Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?"

Show a Little Kindness

Kindness thinks of others. British statesman and financier Cecil Rhodes, whose fortune was used to endow the world-famous Rhodes Scholarships, was a stickler for correct dress—but apparently not at the expense of someone else’s feelings. A young man invited to dine with Mr. Rhodes arrived by train and had to go directly to his host’s home in his travel-stained clothes. Once there, he was embarrassed to find the other guests already assembled, wearing full evening dress. After what seemed a long time, Rhodes appeared in a shabby blue suit. Later the young man learned that his host had been dressed in evening clothes but had put on the old suit when he heard of his young guest’s dilemma.

As David settled into his role as king, his thoughts also turned to others. He remembered his treasured friendship with Jonathan, who had died in battle along with his father, Saul, and his brothers. David yearned to do something to show kindness toward his beloved friend. To his delight, he found Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, and welcomed him as one of his family (2 Sam. 9:2-13). Instead of focusing on his own comforts, David demonstrated the importance of kindly thinking of others.

Everyone needs a little kindness. Whether it’s the checkout girl at the grocery store, the counter server at the fast-food restaurant or the person sharing the pew with you at church, a kind word or a thoughtful deed can brighten their day. Many people labor under heavy loads. Our kindness can mean so much to them. Don’t withhold a kind deed when it’s in your means to do it.

Have you had a kindness shown to you? If so, pass it on. Don’t let it stop with you when you have the power to lighten another person’s load. Make it a point to show kindness to someone today.

Kindness may not bring fortune, but it never brings regrets.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:2-3

Beware the Sinkhole

2 Samuel 11:2-3

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

Beware the Sinkhole

In December 1985 an enormous sinkhole swallowed a house and carport and forced the evacuation of four homes in a retirement community in Florida. The hole was about the size of a pickup truck when it was discovered. Within three hours it had grown to 30 by 40 feet and had swallowed half of a small house. Two hours later it had expanded to more than 70 feet, and the house with its carport was gone. Authorities were grateful that it finally stopped growing without doing even more damage.

David discovered that sin is like an ever-expanding sinkhole. As he was walking on the flat roof of his palace, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. Instead of turning away, he stared longingly at her. At this point the sinkhole was small but expanding. When he inquired about who she was, the hole grew larger. And finally, when he sent for her (v. 4), he soon found himself and those around him swallowed up. What started out as only a look ended in tragedy for all involved.

The best solution for avoiding the danger of a sinkhole is to stay far away from it. The same is true for sin. A lingering look, a carnal curiosity and the sinkhole of sin can rapidly expand. And once it starts to grow, the damage can be extensive. Your marriage, your morals and even your relationship with the Lord can be swallowed by its gaping mouth. Before you even have time to realize what’s happening, everything you value might be gone.

Don’t lose what’s important to you down a sinkhole. Flee sin before it can swallow you and those you love. The farther away you stay from sin, the safer you are.

The sinkhole of sin is never satisfied.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: Romans 5:8 2 Samuel 12:13

Confess Your Sins

2 Samuel 12:13

So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Confess Your Sins

Early in 1993 British police accused two ten-year-old boys of the brutal murder of two-year-old James Bulger. The two boys pleaded their innocence. During the two-week trial the young defendants responded to questioning with noticeable inconsistencies. The climax of the trial came when the parents of one of the boys assured him that they would always love him. Bolstered by the realization that he would not lose his parents’ love, the boy confessed in a soft voice, "I killed James."

David realized that he, too, was caught red-handed in his crimes. What he had been able to hide from his friends and family was revealed to the all-seeing eyes of an all-knowing God. David would face humiliation and sorrow. His family would be afflicted and the whole nation would suffer because of his sins. Yet what sustained him through the whole ordeal was the assurance that he had not lost God’s love. He would face consequences, but upon confession he was forgiven and received back into fellowship with his Heavenly Father again.

The most amazing truth about God’s love is that He knows how wicked we are, yet He loves us (Rom. 5:8). We can confess our most evil deeds to Him and still be confident that His love will not diminish. That does not mean that confession should be viewed as an "easy out" for our sins. It’s not a safety net that gives us the liberty to sin with abandon. Confession removes the guilt of sin, but it doesn’t remove sin’s consequences. It’s a comfort to know, however, that when we’ve "blown it," God still loves us.

If you’re buried beneath a load of sin, perhaps you feel that God’s love is beyond you. Satan may even have you convinced that God has turned His back on you. But that simply isn’t so. After adultery and murder, God still forgave David, and He will forgive you as well. Confess your sins and receive God’s love today.

God’s love is deeper than our sin.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 16:22-23 2 Samuel 13:14 1 Kings 11:3 2 Samuel 12:18

The Sins of the Father

2 Samuel 12:18

Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!"

The Sins of the Father

The consequences of sin frequently affect more than just the one who is sinning. Unfortunately, children are often the victims. Some years ago a study was done at Harvard University that found six out of every ten juvenile delinquents had fathers who drank to excess, and many had mothers who did the same. Researchers also discovered that three out of four delinquents had parents who showed no interest in appropriate discipline. Four out of five had parents who took no interest in their children’s friends or amusements. Many wayward children came from broken homes, and few had religious training of any kind.

This same scenario played itself out in David’s life as well. It’s true that David suffered humiliation and shame. But he was not the only one to bear the consequences of his behavior. Sexual sin plagued his family. His son Amnon committed incest by force with his half-sister Tamar (2 Sam. 13:14). Absalom sexually humbled his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel (16:22-23). Even Solomon, in his latter years, had his heart turned away from the Lord by his 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). It is apparent that David’s sin found fertile soil in the lives of his children.

Even though our children must bear the responsibility for the sinful choices they make, our behavior as parents can strongly influence them in one direction or the other. When we justify sin in our lives, it is all the easier for those who look to us as examples to do the same.

If you are tempted to sin, remember that the consequences of your transgression can ripple down through the generations that follow. Ask yourself, Is it really worth it?

There is no such thing as private sin.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:13-14 2 Samuel 13:23 2 Samuel 15:1-7 2 Samuel 18:33

Beloved Betrayer

2 Samuel 15:13-14

And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; or else we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword."

Beloved Betrayer

Betrayal is difficult to accept. Benedict Arnold betrayed his friend George Washington and his country during the Revolutionary War. As a result, many lives were lost and his name has been synonymous with betrayal ever since. No matter how many noble deeds he accomplished during his life, he will always be remembered as a traitor to his country.

To be betrayed by a friend is hurtful; to be betrayed by a close family member is tragic. Yet that was the situation with David. Of all David’s sons, Absalom seemed to have the most going for him. He was a handsome man with long, flowing hair. He was a gifted communicator and a natural born leader (2 Sam. 15:1-6). In addition, he was a man of patience who was able to control himself until the opportune moment (13:23; 15:7). But he also allowed bitterness to fester in his heart until he turned against his father. In the end, he not only lost his life but also broke his father’s heart (18:33).

Everyone has trusts. They may involve our job, our church or our friends. We may disappoint people or even anger them when we betray our responsibilities to these institutions or individuals. But the greatest trusts we bear are those within our family. When we break our commitments to those who are our own flesh and blood, we create wounds that are extremely difficult to heal.

Keep your commitments to your family. Treat them as your commitments to God. If someone in your family feels you have betrayed him, go to that person and ask for forgiveness.

If commitments are not kept, they should not be made.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:1-18:18 2 Samuel 13:1-14 2 Samuel 14:23-29 Ezekiel 33:11 2 Samuel 18:33

Death of a Child

2 Samuel 18:33

Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: "O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!"

Death of a Child

The late Joe Bayly wrote about the death of the young from firsthand experience. He lost three children: one at 18 days, after surgery; another at 5 years, with leukemia; the third at 18 years, after a sledding accident complicated by mild hemophilia. Joe said, "Of all deaths, that of a child is most unnatural and hardest to bear." He did not underestimate the grief of parents. "When a child dies," he added, "part of the parents is buried."

David knew that experience. He had watched his young son Absalom grow up, the boy with the long, flowing hair. Perhaps he had been his favorite. Absalom had certainly shown great promise as a future leader, if not king, of Israel. Then came the tragic incident with Absalom’s sister Tamar and his half-brother Amnon (2 Sam. 13:1-14). The young man turned bitter and eventually murdered Amnon (14:23-29). Later he plotted a rebellion against his father, which almost succeeded (2 Sam. 15:1-18:18). Yet despite all that, David mourned his boy’s death as though he had been the perfect son. The death of a child is a catastrophic blow even if he has the heart of a rebel.

God understands the pain every parent feels when he or she loses a child. He Himself had to stand apart and watch His beloved Son die on the cross. He walked the same valley of deep sorrow as every grieving parent. And God understands as well when the one you sorrow for has been a wayward son or daughter. Ezekiel 33:11 says, "‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.’" God grieves even when the wicked die.

If you are grieving for a child today, take comfort in God’s understanding. He will sustain you through each surge of sorrow. His loving arms will uphold you all along the way.

God is also a grieving parent.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:7-8

Going On

2 Samuel 19:7-8

"Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now." Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, "There is the king, sitting in the gate." So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent.

Going On

A page from John Wesley’s diary reads as follows: "Sunday a.m., May 19, preached at St. somebody else’s, deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return. Sunday p.m., May 19, preached on the street, kicked off the street. Sunday a.m., May 26, preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as a bull was turned loose during the services. Sunday a.m., June 2, preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway. Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service, preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me."

David had been hit with many heartbreaking experiences as well. His son had rebelled against him. His people had failed to support him. His trusted advisor, Ahithophel, had joined the enemy. His general and nephew, Joab, had disobeyed him and killed Absalom. In fact, life was probably at its lowest ebb for David. But he had a responsibility. He was king and he did not have the luxury to wallow in his sorrow. Life went on and so did David.

When you’re battered by continual disappointments and heartaches, it’s tempting to simply give up. But as Christians we don’t have that luxury. God gives us responsibilities, and until He calls us home we need to fulfill them. There is no promise in God’s Word that life will be easy, only that God will be faithful.

If you are tempted to give up, recognize your responsibilities. Until God gives the signal to pack up and leave, you must go on. In the meantime, rely on God’s strength. He will never fail you.

Life goes on—and so must we.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 17:28-29 2 Samuel 19:31-33

Get Even

2 Samuel 19:31-33

And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. And the king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem."

Get Even

There are times when it’s entirely appropriate to get even with someone—not, however, with those you think have wronged you, but with those you know who have helped you. David practiced this kind of "getting even" with Barzillai.

When the king fled from his son Absalom, he had been unable to gather the supplies needed to support himself and his followers in the wilderness. Hearing of this, a Gileadite from Rogelim named Barzillai and his friends brought "beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, ‘The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness’" (2 Sam. 17:28-29). When the crisis was over and David was ready to return, his first desire was to "get even" with such kindness. He offered Barzillai the opportunity to feast at the king’s table for as long as he was in Jerusalem.

What an impact we Christians would have for good in this world if we tried to get even with those who have been kind to us. Instead of taking for granted the blessings God brings to you through other people, seek a way to return that kindness with kindness. That’s the kind of vengeance God approves of.

Have you been blessed today? Then get even. And if you can’t get even with the one who blessed you, pass the blessing on to someone else.

Get even with someone today—God’s way.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:16-17

Giving Our Best

2 Samuel 23:16-17

So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. And he said, "Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

Giving Our Best

In her book The Gospel in Leviticus, Eleanor Herr Boyd tells of a missionary in India who saw a woman standing at the water of the Ganges River. In her arms was a sickly, whining infant, while at her side stood a beautiful, strong, healthy child. When the missionary returned, he saw her with the sickly child in her arms, but the beautiful boy was gone. He knew she had thrown her child to the crocodiles in the turbid river to appease her god. He asked her, "If you felt you had to do it, why didn’t you throw in the sickly little one?" The woman drew herself erect and proudly replied, "We give our gods the best."

David was committed to this same belief. On one occasion he had expressed a desire to taste the water from the well in Bethlehem. Since Bethlehem was occupied by Philistine soldiers at the time, this was no small challenge. Three of David’s mighty men, however, broke through the enemy lines and retrieved the requested water. Yet it was so precious, bought at the risk of his men’s own lives, that David couldn’t use it for himself. It was the most valuable possession he had, so he gave it to the Lord.

God deserves our finest. When it was His turn to give, God gave the most precious gift He had, His only begotten Son. With such an example, how could a Christian do anything less?

Give your best to the Lord. Whether it’s treasures, time or talents, God deserves more than your leftovers.

The God who gave us His best will not accept less from us.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:2-3

Look At Me

2 Samuel 24:2-3

So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people." And Joab said to the king, "Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundredfold more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?"

Look at Me

A man went to a shoe store to purchase a new pair of shoes. He was fitted with a very suitable pair and went away happy. Some weeks later, though, he brought the shoes back. "Don’t they fit?" asked the store owner. "Oh, they fit fine," replied the man. "Weren’t they of good quality?" the owner inquired. "Yes, they’re fine quality." "Then why are you returning them?" the retailer wanted to know. "Because they don’t have any squeak," said the man. "Why would you want a pair of shoes that squeak?" asked the baffled owner. "So when I go to church," said the man, "people will look up and notice."

Unfortunately, that same attitude took hold of David. In and of itself, there was nothing wrong with numbering the people. It was a convenient way to know who was available for war or what taxes to levy. But those were not David’s motives. David undertook this task to bring glory to himself. Underneath an innocent-looking decision slithered the snake of pride.

Many times Christians do the right thing but with the wrong motive. They might give a large gift, serve on a committee or sing in the choir, but they do it so they will be noticed. Their desire is to glorify themselves more than to give godly service.

Ask God to reveal your true reasons for the things you do. It takes courage and discipline to do this, but it’s worth getting to the bottom of your motives. Don’t be guilty of doing the right things for the wrong reasons.

If your motive is wrong, your service can never be right.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:16-18 2 Samuel 24:24

An Oxymoron

2 Samuel 24:24

Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

An Oxymoron

An oxymoron is two words put together that seem to contradict each other. Our language is sprinkled with such paradoxical phrases, although we often are not consciously aware of them. For example, we talk about eating "jumbo shrimp," driving by a "sanitary landfill" or seeing something we describe as "pretty ugly." But there is another oxymoron that often exists in our thoughts if not in our language—it’s called a "free sacrifice."

When David sinned by taking a census of the people, a plague ravished the land for three days. As the angel of the Lord stretched out his hand to strike Jerusalem, however, God stopped him and spared the city (2 Sam. 24:16). This took place at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. In response to this act of mercy, David was instructed to erect an altar to the Lord on that site (v. 18). When David went to build the altar and make the sacrifice, he was presented with what seemed like a great deal. Araunah offered to freely give him both the land for the altar and the oxen for the sacrifice. But David rejected his offer. How could he make a sacrifice that cost him nothing? The two were incompatible.

Too often when it comes to sacrifice, Christians are looking for a bargain. We want the most sacrifice for the least expense. We wants lots of gain but little pain. Yet such a combination simply isn’t possible. A sacrifice is only worth what you pay for it.

Don’t go looking for sacrifices at a discount. God will have no cheap sacrifices. Be willing to pay the full price if you want the full benefit.

If it isn’t a sacrifice to you, it isn’t a sacrifice for you.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From David
Scripture: 1 Kings 1:5-6

Father Failure

1 Kings 1:5-6

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.)

Father Failure

The sheriff’s office in a Texas city once distributed a list of rules entitled "How to Raise a Juvenile Delinquent in Your Own Family." If that is your goal, it suggests, "Begin from infancy to give the child everything he wants. This will insure his believing that the world owes him a living. Pick up everything he leaves lying around. This will teach him he can always pass his responsibility on to others. Take his part against neighbors, teachers, policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child. He is a ‘free spirit’ and never wrong. Finally, prepare yourself for a life of grief. You’re going to have it."

David apparently raised his son Adonijah by similar rules. Brought up in the pomp and ceremony of a royal court, surrounded by servants to do his bidding, funded by a nearly unlimited supply of wealth, Adonijah was a prime candidate to become a spoiled child. But what put the final seal on Adonijah’s fate was his father. It is said of David that he "had not rebuked him at any time."

Fathers play a vital role in the disciplining of children, especially sons. Even though the dad often does not spend as much time in direct contact with a child as the mom does, his influence should never be underestimated. David’s son Solomon wrote, "My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother" (Prov. 6:20). The word command literally means "to teach with discipline." Apparently Solomon learned something from his father’s failures.

If you are a father, don’t shirk your responsibility to teach with discipline. Let your children know you love them by the guidelines you set for them. Don’t be a father failure.

If you think it’s hard to live with your father, try living without one.

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