Dealing with Neglect

By Fatoki Ifeoluwa

Devotional Reading: As soon as David and his men arrived at Ziklag on the third day, they saw that the Amalekites had attacked Ziklag. The Amalekites invaded the Negev area, attacked Ziklag, and burned the city. 1 Samuel 30:1 ERV

1 Samuel 30 seems to be popular for the “recovery all” narrative and rightly so, for therein we find practical and applicable principles to bring about recovery of whatever might have been lost or stolen from us. However, while God is able to bring us recovery, we need to pay attention to what caused the loss in the first place.

A simple autopsy would reveal that David and his men went away on their usual business, but left their home and families unattended to. They left it unguarded. Since neglect can be defined as “the failure to care for properly”, then it is right to say that in pursuit of other things, David and his men neglected their family.

In our days when ‘hustle’ has found its way into our everyday language. We are busy in the name of hustling, and that has its place since Scripture admonish us unto diligence and hard work. However, the question is at what expense is the diligence? Hope we are not working, yet neglecting other vital components of life?

The need to make it to work in good time may make one neglect daily devotion, and the need to rest may bring about neglect of midweek services in church? What about people who neglect their health or families? Above all, what have you been neglecting? Do you think anything deserves more attention than its currently getting? Remember, what it sometimes take to forestall loss is mere attention.

Prayer and Confession.
Father, I receive grace to pay attention to my life. No needed detail shall escape my attention. I am quickened to take note and attend to what matters. Amen.

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 30:1-5