Focus: What Sort of Person Am I?

Text. 1Sam.25:17

"For he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him."

Often take a long, good look at yourself with the mirror of God's word. God's word is man's best critic. The word of God does not only show you what you are like, but it also helps you become better by the day.

This is what a staff said about his boss, and the boss' name is Nabal, who happens to be the husband of Abigail, a woman of wisdom. One translation says, "And he is such a WORTHLESS man that no one can speak to him." Nabal is a son of Belial. His wife says of him, "For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him" (1Sam.25:25).

Belial is a compound word in Hebrew: beliy, no, without; and ya'al, that which has value, or to be of value. Put together, it means, without value or worthless. It is also used to refer to one who is wicked, cruel or heartless. Nabal is a man given to being evil, corrupt, morally depraved, debased, crooked, wicked, or rebellious. He is given to self-destruct and behaves rascally. Nabal is by description and character, useless and unprofitable.

It's interesting to know that Paul refers to Satan as Belial. He says, "And what concord hath Christ with Belial?" Satan is evil personified. In 2Thes.2:3, the Antichrist is described as the "man of lawlessness," which is the same as saying "son of Belial." Son of Belial is someone who is up to no good, almost irredeemable and beyond purpose. In fact, Belial stems from bala, which means 'to wear out.' Nabal is by name, foolish and thoughtless, surly and churlish, empty and senseless. In the Old Testament, a fool basically refers to the godless, for "the fool has said in his heart that there is no God." Nabal is a well-to-do personality, but he is ugly in character and low in conduct. Sadly enough, Nabal is a descendant of Caleb, a man of great faith and of good courage. What a great contrast between Caleb and Nabal!

Nabal's servant could not go to his own master to report a development in the workplace, for he says, "No man can speak to him." Simply put, Nabal is unapproachable. He is so full of himself that no one dares approach him, not to talk of cautioning or calling him to order. He thinks life is all about him and believes that the whole world revolves around him. Nabal is arrogant and ignorant at the same time - living in material luxury and in ethical penury.

We have "sons of Belial" in every corner of the world. Even the church has plenty of them. The sons of Eli, the priest, are called "sons of Belial." David had them (1Sam.30:22). Hannah rejected the label (1Sam.1:16). You have them within the corridors of power and among the high and mighty (2Chron.13:7). Families have them. Society is full of the sons of Belial. They lack moral restraint and respect for authority. Terrorists are sons and daughters of Belial.

One problem with arrogant and self-centered people is that they don't listen, nor do they learn. They lack the spirit of humanity and the heart of humility. They are callous and cannot even read the handwriting on the wall.

At last, Nabal died of heart attack. Indeed, evil leads to death.

Let us choose the path of godliness and goodness, sympathy and empathy, humility and generosity, meekness and wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord. Above all, let's wear love as an overall. After all, what's the benefit of being evil and mean like Nabal? What sort of person am I?

by Bishop Moses E. Peter