Being a net giver……

Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.  1 Samuel 25:1

And that is all that is said here about the death of Samuel. It’s significant enough to be mentioned but no further detail is given.

The rest of this chapter is devoted to the weird and wonderful story of Nabal, which means ‘fool’, and his wife Abigail, which means ‘the father’s joy’.

Nabal is rich, successful, surly and mean. And a fool.

Abigail is intelligent and beautiful. And a joy.

David sends ten young men to Nabal to request supplies. They have been good to Nabal’s shepherds while they have been about and about with the sheep and so seek Nabal’s favour.

Who are you? David’s men? Who the hell is this David? Why on earth should I share what I have worked hard for with the likes of you? I’ve no idea who you are and where you’ve come from. Why would I give you anything?

Big mistake. Hospitality is key in God’s kingdom. Generosity towards the stranger and foreigner are an integral part of faith in the one true God.

David is intent on seeking revenge for this rejection and refusal.

One of Abigail’s servants tips her off.

“Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”

Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.  1 Samuel 25:17-18

Abigail respects David. She bows down before him. She apologises. She takes the blame. She begs for mercy. She recognises David’s special relationship with God. She points out how needless bloodshed would be on his hands for all time – basically telling him to calm down, to breathe, to think about the long term consequences…..

And he does. He turns around and walks away.

The story doesn’t end there. Nabal dies ten days later and David has taken a shine to the lovely Abigail. He marries her (and an update on his wives – David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim. v33-34).

And they lived happily ever after. Yeah. As if. More to come on that…..

And today’s point is all about hospitality and generosity and willingness to share and open our homes and give what we have earned and deserve to those who have not earned it and don’t deserve it……because we’re so good at that, right?

A lot of the time, we’re not so very different to Nabal the fool. We guard what is ours with our life. We are not prepared to share. We don’t see why we should. It’s ours. We earned it. We need to proved for our own and save the rest of a rainy day and there is nothing to spare for anyone else.

Especially the stranger and the foreigner and the ones who have never lifted a finger to help themselves…….

There’s a lot of talk about communities and building community in workplaces and neighbourhoods and politics and churches…..that will never happen while we cling to the attitude of ‘what’s mine is mine’.

When we start to share and discover the joy of generosity, we find that in giving, we get a whole lot more in return.

I was described as a ‘net giver’ by someone the other day – which I didn’t understand at the time, but it means that I give a lot more than I get back. Which sounds all very worthy and sacrificial, except it’s not like that at all.

Having a houseful makes me happy.

Being generous brings its own reward.

Giving what I have – time, money, energy – to make the world (near and far) a better place is the best way to live.

Sharing connects me with the people around me.

Reaching out does me as much good as those I reach out to.

So I’m with God on this. Hospitality is key in God’s kingdom. So when we pray ‘Let your kingdom come on earth as in heaven’, we’re praying ‘help me to practice hospitality – to whoever….’

Generosity towards the stranger and foreigner are an integral part of faith in the one true God. So when we profess faith in God, we’re buying into generosity.

Instead of ‘what’s mine is mine’, it’s all about ‘everything I have is yours and of your own do I give you.’

How different would our communities and neighbourhoods and workplaces and churches be if we truly embraced hospitality and generosity.

Lord, let your Kingdom come.