2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
“Happiness does not make us grateful, gratitude keeps us happy – always”.
Gratitude is the secret to greatness. Gratitude keeps us humble, grateful and thankful to the Lord who has blessed us. Gratitude grows humility and not our ego, with elevation. “A grateful heart is the beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being” – James E Faust. Gratitude is the fertile ground on which godliness, holiness and humility thrive.
David, the shepherd boy, is still the greatest King of Israel. He is called the man after God’s heart as he did not forget his humble beginnings. The Lord God found him in the wilderness tending sheep and anointed him as the King of Israel. David’s heart was not puffed with ego but with the anointing, his achievements or aptitude. His gratitude attributed to his greatness as His heart remained meek. David praised God in the sheep-pen and He also worshiped the Lord God in the palace as gratitude outgrew his promotions. “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord (vs 20). God honoured the humility of David by rewarding his generations with kingship and rulership. Yet for the sake of His servant David, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever (2 Kings 8:19). David never got too busy with the politics and policies after he became the King to pray, praise or sing psalms to glorify God.
The prayer of David in 2 Samuel 7 simply reveals that gratitude was the foundation to David’s greatness. King David with all his weakness, pitfalls and failures is still the most loved and revered King of Israel.
The secret of David’s greatness:
1. Forget: David did not forget his humble beginnings. It is important to forget the hurt, pain and shame; harbouring anger, bitterness and resentment will steal gratitude. However, reminiscing our humble beginnings help us to nurture gratitude and thankfulness.
2. Former: Those who live in the pain of the past will be stuck and never progress; conversely, those who forget the lessons of the past will become puffed and proud. Wallowing in the past will sink us in self-pity but revisiting the past learning will keep us humble.
3. FOB: Gratitude is the FOB (Frequency Operating Button) to greatness. Complainers and mourners are fools who sabotage their own future. David did not have an easy ride. He went through loss, pain, betrayal and backstabbing. Yet through it all, he remained humble, thankful and grateful.
Gratitude is the FOB to growth and greatness. Do not wallow in your past failures but also do not forget your humble beginnings.
2 Samuel 7:22 “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, help me to never forget where you found me and how you have elevated me. Amen.
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