In 2 Samuel 12, God sent Nathan to David. During their meeting, Nathan told David a story about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had many flocks and herds, and the poor man had nothing except a little ewe. The poor man nourished the ewe. A traveler came to visit the rich man, and the rich man knew he should prepare a meal for his guest. The rich man did not want to spare an animal from his flocks or herds, so the rich man took the ewe of the poor man and prepared a meal for the traveler with her.
When David heard the story, he was angered by the rich man’s action. The rich man took the one thing the poor man had of value even though the rich man could have easily spared an animal from his flocks and herds. David was so consumed with anger over the deed of the rich man, that he could not see the similarities between the story and his dealings with Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba.
It wasn’t until Nathan informed David that he was the man that David could step back and take stock of the situation. Imagine David’s shock. At that moment, David was forced to acknowledge where he was and that he had sinned against God. David then repented.
Before Nathan talked with David, David was so engrossed and involved in his situation that he couldn’t see the truth for himself. It is like that with us sometimes. Sometimes we can be so engrossed and involved in a situation that we cannot see where we are. During these times, it could be helpful to have someone tell us the truth in love and without judgment so that we are able to move toward acknowledging where we are and move forward.
Hearing the truth is not always comfortable. This is why our truth tellers have to be people we trust and whose opinions we respect enough to receive. We have to then accept what the person tells us, especially when we can see the truth for ourselves. We then have to take ownership and do something about it.
Regardless of where we are in our journey, God has a way of showing us where are. Even without a truth teller, an event or circumstance can occur that reveals to us where we are spiritually. God has a way of bringing tests and trials that reveal to us areas we need to grow in.
And each of us has room to grow. Our taking stock in our current situation doesn’t necessary have to reveal some great sin or issue. Taking stock simply is a way in which we can get to know our true selves so we can continue on the journey of becoming our authentic selves.
It is when we become our authentic selves that we are able to fully function in the calls and purposes of our lives.
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