16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. 18 You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lord delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away [k]safely? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my [l]descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.” 22 David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
For the first time in a while, we see a moment of sanity. David’s display of integrity and giving honor to Saul as God’s chosen king seems to have finally hit home for Saul.
So that finally he forgets to worry about himself, and losing the kingdom, but Saul’s thoughts turn to his family, and he asks David for a favor. Fortunately for Saul, David had already promised this very thing to Jonathan.
While our inclinations as human’s may tend to selfishness and evil, there is, in our core, something good. There is a part of us, placed there by God himself, that knows to do the right thing.
When you strive to do what is right, and what is honorable in serving God, it will rub off on others. Not always, but you will find moments where they are motivated by your dedication to God, though they know it not. In the end, they may just lose that selfish focus, if only for a moment.
Though our purpose isn’t to make others be less selfish, it is evidence that we are living a life honorable and pleasing to God, and that is our strongest testimony. Some will be swayed by no amount of words. But actions speak louder, and like Saul, they may finally come to realize that they need what you have because of your deeds. Never take that for granted, and live every moment as unto the Lord.