Develop a Prosperous Mind-set

There’s this young man in the Old Testament by the name of Bosh.

Okay, it’s Mephibosheth (can we just call him Bosh?). He was the grandson of King Saul and the son of Jonathan.  You may recall that Saul’s son, Jonathan, and David were best friends. They actually entered into a covenant relationship, similar to the ancient covenant of being “blood brothers.” That means whatever one had, it belonged to the other. Moreover, in the covenant relationship, if something were to happen to one of these two men, the remaining “brother” would be obliged to take care of the other’s family.

King Saul and Jonathan were killed in the battle on the same day, and when word got back to the palace, a servant grabbed Bosh, Jonathan’s little son picked him up, and took off running. Going out of Jerusalem in such haste the servant tripped and fell while carrying the child. Bosh became crippled as a result of the fall. The servant transported Jonathan’s son all the way to a city called Lodebar, one of the most poverty-stricken, desolate cities in that entire region. That is where Bosh, grandson of the king, lived almost his entire life. Think about that. He was the grandson of the king, yet he was living in those terrible conditions.

David succeeded Saul as king, and years later, long after Saul and Jonathan were memories in the minds of most people, David asked his staff the question in 2 Samuel  9:1 “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul that I could show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?” Remember, that was part of the covenant Jonathan and David had entered.

One of David’s staff members replied, “Yes, David. Jonathan has a son that’s still alive, but he’s crippled. He lives in Lodebar.

David said, “Go get him and bring him to the palace.”

When Bosh arrived, he was no doubt fearful.

But David said to him, “Don’t be afraid. I’m going to show kindness to you because of your father, Jonathan. I’m going to give you back all the land that once belonged to your grandfather Saul. And from this day forward, you will eat at my table as though you are one of my sons.”

David treated Bosh as royalty. After all, he was the grandson of the king. And David was in a covenant relationship with father.

Bosh’s life was transformed instantly – that’s the good news – but think of all the years that he lived in that dirty city of Lodebar. All the while, he knew he was royalty. Beyond that, it was commonly known that David and Jonathan were in a covenant relationship. Based on that alone Bosh knew he had rights.

Why didn’t he just go into the palace and say, “King David, I’m Jonathan’s son. I’m living in poverty down in Lodebar, and I know that I’m made for more than that. I’m here to claim what belongs to me through my father’s covenant relationship with you.”

Why did Bosh settle for mediocrity? We catch a clue from his initial response to David. When David told him that he was going to take care of him, the Bible says, “Bosh bowed his head low and he said. ‘Who am I that you notice such a dead dog like me?”

Do you see his self-image? He saw himself as defeated, as a loser, as a dead dog.

Yes, he was the grandson of the king, but his image of himself kept him from receiving the privileges that rightfully belonged to him.

Why did I share you that story? Because for once in our lives, if not many times, we do the same thing. Confession, I was like Bosh. I saw myself as a dead dog. My self image was so contrary to the way God sees me that I miss out on God’s best. Thankfully I’m thinking and seeing a new perspective. I’m learning to see myself as what God sees me. And God sees us as champions.

Friends, start stepping up to the dinner table. Start enjoying God’s blessings for you. Develop a prosperous mind-set, seeing yourself as the royalty God made you to be.