Big Heart

David was noted to open his home to the disabled and the elderly. 

2 Samuel 19.30-43

Reference: v.33 The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."

Explore:  I believe that David has a very big, compassionate heart – I wonder whether that's part of the reason he has so many family troubles!  However here we see him opening up his home once again.  Barzillai may be very rich but he explains the his limitations of his age.  David would have known that full well and yet he still invites him to Jerusalem so that David can take care of him.  It made me think straight back to when David opened his home to Mephibosheth.  David had a big heart and was willing to invite people into his home in a generous spirit.

Application:  There are lots of generous people in our world.  Particularly when a crisis hits we see people digging really deep to support and show concern for others.  However, there's something special about someone opening their home to another.  I don't know whether it's a generational change or just the fact that I grew up in the country, but people don't seem to open up their homes as much any more.  We had a new minister arrive at our church and I constantly heard people say, "I'll let you settle in and then you must come over for tea."  However, the invitation was never followed through.  My husband and I were looked on quite strangely from our friends as we had a boarder living with us for three years of our marriage.  
People tend to be generous, to a point, but then all their barriers come up.  Our God is the greatest example of generosity.  He was so generous that He gave his own son.   Surely if we are to follow in his leading we need to up the ante on our generosity.  

Prayer:   Lord, thank you for your endless generosity.  May I see everything that I have as a gift from you, that is meant to be shared with everyone I meet.  Amen.

2 Samuel