Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Saturday, APRIL 21 The Heart of the Owner 1Kings 3:24-27 (Living Bible)

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Saturday, APRIL 21

The Heart of the Owner

1Kings 3:24-27 (Living Bible)
“... So a sword was brought to the king. Then he said, “Divide the living child in two and give half to each of these women!” Then the woman who really was the mother of the child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, sir! Give her the child—don't kill him!” But the other woman said, “All right, it will be neither yours nor mine; divide it between us!” Then the king said, “Give the baby to the woman who wants him to live, for she is the mother!”

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There are so many instructive lessons to be learned from the women in our text above. The lessons reflect the attitude that different people maintain to that which they are purposely engaged in, such as their work or the responsibilities entrusted to them. The attitude of the real mother resulted in her happiness and ultimately rewarded her at the end of the day. On the contrary, the attitude of the other woman caused her to experience loss and shame, all because she refused to own up to her mistakes and to learn from them. Instead, she chose to attempt to cover them up by engaging in something even more fraudulent. So many people maintain negative attitudes in their work and responsibilities; sometimes to avoid discipline and correction, never realizing that it becomes their undoing at the end of the day. When confusion arose concerning the real mother of the child, this woman was willing to destroy the child's life for her envious and selfish reasons. In the same way, many people are willing to destroy the organizations and responsibilities entrusted to them because of their envious and selfish attitudes.

The real mother, on the other hand, had compassion (or genuine love, as referenced in our text above) for the child. She was willing to fight for what was hers but not at the risk of destroying the life of another human being. She was willing to make a big sacrifice. Beloved, you do not have to be the owner of something entrusted to you to maintain an ownership mentality towards that thing. Luke 16:12 (NIV) says, and if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?" Your faithfulness and sacrifice in dealing with things that belong to others is preparing you for your own. Often, it is the prerequisite for you to receive your own.

PRAYER FOCUS: Ask God to help you reflect compassion, faithfulness and sacrifice in all responsibilities entrusted to you.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: 2 SAM 12-13; LUKE 16

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