🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ Insecurity Masks: “Drunkenness & Wealth”
Scripture: 1 Samuel 25:3 (KJV)
“And the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.”
Devotion
Have you ever met somebody who had EVERYTHING but acted like they were miserable?! They have money, a beautiful home, nice cars, and everything most people work hard to have. BUT THEY ARE MEAN AS A SNAKE! 😂😩 Whewwwww! You would think having all those things would make them happy, but they walk around treating people like they’re beneath them! MY, MY, MY! Sometimes what people display on the outside is covering up something going on inside. And today, we’re talking about two things people can hide behind: WEALTH AND DRUNKENNESS!
Let’s read today’s Scripture together! In 1 Samuel 25, we’re introduced to a wealthy man named Nabal. The Bible tells us he had thousands of sheep and goats, so this man was RICH! But verse 3 tells us something very important about his character. HE WAS HARSH AND EVIL IN HIS DEALINGS! OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽 Now, wait a minute! He had all this wealth, but apparently he didn’t have kindness, humility, or respect for others! And his wife Abigail was described as a woman of good understanding. ISN’T IT SOMETHING HOW SOMEBODY CAN BE RICH IN POSSESSIONS BUT POOR IN CHARACTER?! Whewwwww! 😮💨
Now, let’s talk about what’s REALLY behind some of this behavior! SOMETIMES THAT COCKINESS AND ARROGANCE IS NOTHING BUT A MASK FOR INSECURITY! Whewwwww! 😮💨 Maybe you grew up being picked on, laughed at, or overlooked in school. Maybe you grew up in a home where nobody ever told you, “Good job!” Nobody celebrated your accomplishments or made you feel like you mattered. Maybe you’ve spent your whole life feeling like you weren’t good enough! And now that you have money, possessions, or a position of authority, you use those things to make yourself feel important! YOU WENT FROM FEELING BENEATH EVERYBODY TO TRYING TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL BENEATH YOU! OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
And here’s something else! SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON’T KNOW HOW TO TREAT OTHERS KINDLY BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER TREATED KINDLY THEMSELVES! They grew up around harsh words, criticism, rejection, and disrespect. And now they’re repeating the very behavior that hurt them! MY, MY, MY! But listen, JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE MISTREATED DOESN’T GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO MISTREAT SOMEBODY ELSE! Your past may help explain your behavior, but it doesn’t excuse it! And while the Bible doesn’t tell us what caused Nabal to become such a harsh and wicked man, his story gives us an opportunity to examine what may be hiding behind our own attitudes. YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD AND STILL BE THAT HURTING LITTLE BOY OR GIRL ON THE INSIDE! Whewwwww! 😮💨🙏🏽
And then there’s drunkenness. Later in this chapter, in verse 36, we find Nabal having a feast and becoming very drunk! Now, the Bible doesn’t specifically say Nabal drank because he was insecure, so we shouldn’t assume that was his motivation. But we DO know that people sometimes use alcohol to escape things they don’t want to face! Some drink because they’re stressed. Some because they’re unhappy. Some because they don’t know how to deal with their emotions. And some use intoxication as an excuse for behavior they refuse to take responsibility for! BUT YOU CANNOT KEEP COVERING UP WHAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH! WHEWWWWW! 😮💨🙏🏽
And here’s what I really want us to understand. YOU CAN LOOK SUCCESSFUL ON THE OUTSIDE AND STILL BE STRUGGLING ON THE INSIDE! Somebody can be the boss, own a business, have a beautiful family, and live in a big house, but still be filled with anger, pride, insecurity, or bitterness! And sometimes those struggles show up in the way they treat people. Maybe it’s that supervisor who constantly belittles employees to remind everybody who’s in charge. Maybe it’s that person who brags about everything they own but cannot celebrate anybody else’s success. Or maybe it’s someone who drinks excessively and becomes cruel toward the very people who love them. WHAT WE REFUSE TO ADDRESS IN OUR HEARTS CAN EVENTUALLY SHOW UP IN OUR BEHAVIOR! OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
Now, before we start thinking about everybody we know who acts like Nabal, LET’S EXAMINE OURSELVES! 👀 Are we hiding behind our accomplishments? Do we use our money, titles, or positions to make ourselves feel better than other people? Are we turning to unhealthy habits instead of dealing with what’s troubling us? BECAUSE GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY WHAT WE OWN IF OUR CHARACTER DOESN’T REFLECT HIM! Whewwwww! Nabal’s story reminds us that wealth without wisdom and good character can become a dangerous combination. And if we’re struggling emotionally, we don’t have to keep pretending everything is fine. We can seek God, receive wise counsel, and get the help we need.
So today, I want to leave you with this: STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR WEALTH, POSSESSIONS, AND SUCCESS, AND ALLOW GOD TO HEAL THE INSECURITIES AND BROKENNESS WITHIN YOU! 🙌🏽🔥 Your money cannot replace peace. Your possessions cannot produce humility. And getting drunk cannot permanently solve what’s troubling your heart! GOD WANTS MORE THAN YOUR OUTWARD SUCCESS. HE WANTS YOUR HEART! And if you’re blessed with wealth, use it to bless others, not belittle them! If you’re struggling with insecurity, don’t hide behind pride or unhealthy habits. LET GOD WORK ON THE PERSON BEHIND THE MASK! HALLELUJAH TO OUR LORD! 🙌🏽💙
✍🏽 Reflect & Respond
Am I using money, possessions, accomplishments, or status to establish my worth or make myself feel superior to others?
Are there emotions or insecurities I’m trying to cover up instead of honestly addressing them?
Does the way I treat people reflect the character of Christ, regardless of how much or how little I have?
TODAY’S QUESTION:
IF EVERYTHING I OWNED WAS TAKEN AWAY, WOULD I STILL KNOW WHO I AM IN GOD?
Today, examine your heart. Ask God to reveal anything you’re using to cover up insecurity, anger, or emotional pain.
DON’T JUST WORK ON YOUR IMAGE. LET GOD WORK ON YOUR CHARACTER! 🙌🏽
🙏🏽 Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for every blessing You’ve given me. Lord, please help me never to allow money, possessions, accomplishments, or positions to make me prideful or cause me to mistreat others. Search my heart and reveal any insecurity, anger, or hurt that I may be trying to hide. Help me not to turn to unhealthy habits to escape what I need to face. Father, give me humility, wisdom, self-control, and a heart that reflects Your love. Remind me that my worth is not found in what I own but in who I am in You. Help me become rich in faith, love, kindness, and good character. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen. 🙏🏽💙
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