Namesake

It’s difficult to receive correction, isn’t it? It’s easy when being corrected to fall into judging the person’s motives for correcting us, taking offense at the way they corrected us, and searching out inconsistencies and errors in the life of the one correcting us.

But I guess that’s why David was said to be a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). You see, David faced the stinging rebuke by the prophet, Nathan. In fact, Nathan set him up in such a way that David had to have been humiliated and embarrassed. But what did King David do? Did he criticize Nathan for the way he rebuked him? No. Did he make excuses for his conduct? No. Did he seek out a way to discredit Nathan? No.

Do you know what King David did? He named a son after Nathan! Check it out (1 Chronicles 3:5). Not only did David not take offense at what Nathan did to him, he later named one of his son’s “Nathan.” That’s true humility and reflects a genuine desire to be right with God. David didn’t hate Nathan for his rebuke, he loved him for it.

Friends, those who have the courage to confront you for your own good aren’t worthy of our hatred or vengeance. In fact, in David’s case, his confronter was worthy of “namesake.” Give it some thought.

By Steve Higginbotham