David was a person who not only loved God, but he also valued the people around him, and appreciated them. How regularly do you stop to think about who is helping you, or who has helped you, to get to where you've got?
Have you ever thought back in your life, who helped me to get where I am? Did someone make an investment in my life, that's helped me move to where I am? Did you stop and thank them? Did you stop and bless them? Did you stop and give them something, that acknowledged: you help me get where I've got? Think about that youth leaders that helped you, and sowed their life, energy, and time.
It's a very difficult, and challenging thing, being a youth leader. The reason it's challenging, is because young people are so up and down; today they're this, and tomorrow they're something else. They're unstable in the course. You can't always rely on them, and often they will just use everything you've got, and then take you for granted, and walk away. That's what makes it so hard for someone who is working with youth. That's why it's quite challenging for people to take on ministering and working with young people.
How many times have you stopped to look at the people who have helped you, counselled you, given advice to you - and actually stopped to thank them, appreciate them, and make room for them in your life? Write a note and say: thank you, it meant so much when you did this. Maybe you've had kid's church leaders, and they've invested in you, and you know you are where you are, because of what they did.
Perhaps you're an adult, and you realise, as you look back, there were two or three people in your life that helped you. They were with you, they supported you, and enabled you to get where you are. Did you ever stop to write to them, and thank them, and appreciate them? Have you made any provision to bless them, for what they've done for your life? This is the heart of David.
Hebrews 6:10 – “God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love, in that you minister to the saints, and continue to minister.”
God says that it's unrighteous to forget when people do good. If people do good, and you don't acknowledge it, and you forget it - that's unrighteous! It's wrong! It's minimising them, devaluing them, and taking them for granted. How often do we just take for granted what people do for us, instead of blessing them, and thanking them, and appreciating them, and expressing that in some kind of way?
David provided financially for the people who had blessed him and helped him. He gave a financial gift. He helped them. He was always like that, and He continued to do that - even at Ziklag when he received tremendous wealth, as a result of standing up, hearing God, and coming into a place of victory. After that, he gave gifts to everyone who had been his supporters. That's the heart of David.
Are you that kind of person; or do you just look to get something out of people? I've seen this over the years in the church, among Christians. So many of them still have the mentality of the world - that they will come, and just draw what they can get, so they can get ahead. Then, the moment they've got it, they just forget you, and walk away. They're looking for someone else to get them ahead again, further. This is unrighteous! This is exploitation of people. It's lacking honor and value for the people that position and help us in our life.
Think about what your parents have done - have you stopped for a while to honor your parents, for what they've done, what they've contributed - to actually think about the sacrifice; what it cost them to do what they've done, and begin to just find ways to express the appreciation?