Have you ever been falsely accused of something at work? No, I’m sure that has never happened to you. Well, maybe at least once, right? How does that make you feel? Angry? Defensive? Depressed?
Jesse, David’s father, had dispatched him to the battlefield to get some news and to take some good home cooking to his older brothers and their officer. When he arrived, he walked right into a mess. A giant of an enemy stood in the valley between the two armies, screaming profanities and challenging his army, his country, and his God! David was furious! He began to ask about what the plan was to shut this guy up. Enter Eliab, the oldest brother- no thanks for the food, no interest in news from home, just a barrage of accusations that David had deserted his “little sheep herding job” just to get some fun out of watching the battle. Wow!
“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, 1 Samuel 17
Boy, you try to stand for the right things, you try to be helpful, only to get kicked in the teeth! David had a choice of how to deal with this attack. He could have become disheartened and gone home. He could have fired a verbal volley right back and continued the argument. Instead, he redirected his energy and concern to another audience and that made the difference between a discouraging army camp visit and a God-powered fight with Goliath that changed the course of the war! It became one of the most commonly known stories in the Bible. Peter talks about being the victim of malicious talk:
But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16
He goes on to say that it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil! I have a choice when faced with accusations. I can lash right back. I can wimp out and let my life direction veer off course. Or, I can keep pointing in the direction God has set for me, ensuring that I speak with gentleness and respect. Wow, sometimes that takes a little more humility than I have on tap! Resolve today to let others live in the gutter. God has great plans for you today!
shared in the workplace 3/22/10