1 Chronicles 11:19 “and he said, ‘Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.’ Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.”

SACRIFICE

This story is one of the intriguing ones to me in all the Old Testament.  David and his men were fighting the Philistines, and David gets a craving – for water.  Not just any water either.  He was craving water from the well at Bethlehem, which was in Philistine control.  Three of his mighty men go down, fight their way to the well and bring back water for their king.  As Adam Sandler said in the movie Waterboy, “That must be some fine H2O.”

David is so moved he offers it as a sacrifice to God and pours it out.  It seems David was almost embarrassed that these men had overheard his selfish craving and sought to meet it.  He is humbled at their loyalty and willingness to sacrifice for him.

TEACHING MOMENT

Loyalty and sacrifice are hard to teach to children. They can only learn that by observing others.  Being loyal to friends or family is so important, though.  We need to do all we can to help them learn how to do that.  Sacrificing for others is even harder to teach.  Children are naturally selfish (well, at least most of them).  Just try to get a two-year-old to share their toys with someone.

But loyalty and sacrifice are admirable traits in anyone.  When children learn to be loyal and to sacrifice their desires for the benefit of others, they will have learned true maturity.  Selfishness and maturity are complete opposites.  You cannot be mature and demand your own way.  You cannot be mature and be disloyal.

How are you doing with these two maturity traits?  To whom are you loyal?  For whom are you willing to sacrifice?  Think about those questions for just a minute.  Write down a list of five people you thought of.  Now pray for each of them.  Ask the Lord to allow you to show your loyalty this week.  Ask the Lord to show you how you  could sacrifice something you desire for their benefit.

Father, You sacrificed the greatest gift for me – one I could never repay.  I owe You everything.  Help me today to show You my loyalty and willingness to sacrifice for You and others.