Be sensitive to others

Mon, 12 Dec 2022

‘Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’ Philippians 2:4

Often, we are unaware of the other person’s needs in a relationship or friendship. We become calloused. We stop listening. We’re oblivious to the pressure they’re under. Simply stated, the root of many problems in a relationship is insensitivity. Everyone you meet needs kindness. The people who sit around you in church have major hurts; you’re just unaware of them.

We find a great example of sensitivity in the life of King David. David’s friend, Jonathan, Saul’s son, had been killed. Now, safely enthroned for several years, David made a rare request. He asked if anyone was left in Saul’s family that he could help. He discovered Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet. When David sent for him, Mephibosheth almost certainly thought he was going to be killed because he was a member of the enemy’s family from the old dynasty. But David said to him, ‘Don’t be afraid… for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’ (2 Samuel 9:7 NIV)

Mephibosheth felt like a dog and expected to be treated like one and replied, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’ (2 Samuel 9:8 NIV) One of the dangers of success is that the pressures that accompany it can make you insensitive towards others. David was gracious and sensitive to Mephibosheth’s needs. Ask yourself if there is anyone you need to become more sensitive towards, and then ask the Holy Spirit for help to do it.