“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” – Colossians 4:6

In Samuel 25, we see a certain man in Maon, who was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings.

While in the wilderness, David sent his men to ask Nabal for supplies. David felt the need to ask Nabal because his men had taken charge of protecting Nabal’s livestock every time they came out to graze. Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?” When the servant reported what Nabal had said to David, he plotted to attack Nabal and ransack his entire household for the apparent lack of gratitude and respect Nabal meted to him.

When Nabal’s wife, Abigail heard this, she quickly took supplies and went after David. Scripture tells that she got off her donkey and bowed, while saying these – “Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent.  And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.” Hearing the words of Abigail, David accepted the gifts and turned back.

We see from the above passage and subsequent verses that Nabal’s response was not only a sign of ingratitude and rudeness, it marked the demise of his house. Similar to Nabal, a rude person frequently speaks without thinking, which makes them prone to making poor decisions that alienate others. Many people have lost valuable relationships, jobs and life changing opportunities because they were knowingly or unknowingly rude to people who had the power to open a door for them. Scripture urges us many times to be polite and cultured in our dealings with people, I pray that our any heart of stone be turned into a heart of flesh, so we can fully walk in the light of love, respect and honor. Amen!