Appreciation Banquet
Sermon - The Benefits of Showing Appreciation
Scripture: 2 Samuel 23: 1-5, 13-17 “These are the last words of David: “David, the son of Jesse, speaks—David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel. “The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue. The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’ “Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.”
13-17 “Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So, the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So, David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.”
I want you to consider the benefits of showing appreciation. The ministry of appreciation is lifted throughout the biblical record. Abraham purchased a slave girl companion for Sarah when she was barren just to show his appreciation and love. Elkanah had two wives. The Bible contrasts Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who was barren. The Rabbis state that Hannah was Elkanah's first wife; after they had been married for ten years, and he saw that Hannah bore him no children, he also took Peninnah as a wife. Elkanah showered Hannah with many gifts during her barrenness. Those special gifts made Hannah’s life more bearable.
One of the most unique examples in the Old Testament is related to us as King David is writing his memoirs listing the names of his mighty men. Memoirs allow us to see perspective outside of our own and teach us empathy and compassion. This helps to broaden our general knowledge of the world, different cultures and human experiences. Memoirs are inspiring and empowering. Directed by God, David records the actions of three of his mighty men who went above and beyond the call of duty. Their act of devotion paints a beautiful picture of the high level of appreciation they showed to David. Their gift came at the perfect time. In a moment of despair, when David heard that the Philistines were coming, he went down to the stronghold. The stronghold represents the place of prayer. Every time David encountered a battle, he got down on his knees and sought God's guidance. Now in this hold, God seemed to be silent, and David’s patience was wearing thin. David longed for a refreshing drink from the well of his hometown, Bethlehem. Despite overwhelming obstacles, the mighty three overcame the enemy and brought the water to David. They were not commanded to do this, but they acted out of love and appreciation for David! Similarly, when we show appreciation, it is an act of devotion and gratitude because we love the person! Showing appreciation involves preparation, labor, time, effort, and sacrifice, and sometimes overcoming barriers that are thrown in our path by the enemy. Have you ever noticed how many interruptions and diversions seem to present themselves when you are getting ready for appreciation events? Sometimes personal difficulties may arise, inner conflicts may occur, disagreements develop and even a lack of interest in the event, all because Satan does not want believers to celebrate each other.
David refused to drink this water for his personal use, he chose to pour out this water as an offering before the Lord! It might seem like these three men had wasted their time and effort. But no, David considered their act to be so significant that he honored their gift by using it as a special precious offering to the Lord and recorded this deed in his memoirs. Many would have been ready to risk their lives in carrying out some service for the benefit of the kingdom; but these mighty men were ready to face death in order to do something that was wholly for the gratification and the desire of David. They broke through the host of the Philistines, drew water from the well, and brought it to David. This act of devotion delighted the heart of David, and he sees in it a sacrifice of which the Lord alone is worthy. So, refusing to drink the water, he pours it out before the Lord.
David’s men were incredibly loyal. David was God’s anointed, but he was not yet king. He was in mortal danger for his life. These men were living off the land, risking their lives for a king in poverty. They had a remarkable faith in David, because they could only see him as king because of what others had said about him and because of his character. This act of appreciation caused David to get up and keep on going.
Likewise, appreciation events may appear to some people as a waste of money, time, and effort. After all, the money could be used to feed hungry people or provide care for the homeless. But from God's perspective, our act of appreciation has great value, because it can bring refreshment to the heart of the honoree and gives God an offering of thanksgiving.
In many ways, as a society, we’ve lost touch with the true value of showing gratitude. And that’s understandable. Gratitude requires reflection and stillness, two things that can be difficult to find in our busy, fast-paced, overstimulated everyday lives. As a result, we’re also missing out on the benefits of gratitude, which may be greater than many people realize. As it turns out, the effects of gratitude and showing appreciation can be important for our overall well-being for several reasons.
First, Showing Appreciation to Others Improves Our Mental Health. If you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, gratitude might be the last thing on your mind. However, as it turns out, gratitude could be a key component of helping with your mental health. One study showed that participants who wrote gratitude letters regularly displayed significantly better mental health than those who didn’t. In fact, brain scans suggested that gratitude might even have the power to rewire our brains for the better giving us a more positive outlook even if our situation remains unchanged. You see it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Secondly, Showing Appreciation to Others Improves Physical Health. Showing appreciation is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, helps you deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. It improves your sleep and strengthens your immunity. Gratitude has been shown to help reduce pain and improved cardiovascular health as well.
Thirdly, Showing Appreciation to Others Builds Stronger Social Bonds. It’s no secret that people like to feel appreciated. Gratitude kept to yourself can have tremendous benefits, but when it is expressed, the benefits are multiplied for you personally and for the person receiving it. It is tied to your physical and mental well-being. More importantly, expressing your gratitude often build connections and improve your relationships.
Finally, showing appreciation to God’s people brings an eternal reward that can never be lost. Matthew 10:42 “I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will never lose his reward.”
Many things in life can be lost, stolen, and destroyed. But showing appreciation to servants of God brings rewards that can never be lost. The kingdom mission and the ministry performed by God’s messengers is so important that Jesus said, the person who gives one of them a cup of cold water—because he is a disciple of Jesus—will not lose his or her reward. Their reward is eternal and can never be lost! The implication is that those who serve Jesus' disciples because they believe in Jesus and want to help the mission succeed will be rewarded and their rewards cannot be lost.
At times people are rewarded because of their giftedness, talents, or skills. Their talents are so extraordinary. Most of us consider our talents are average, many of us would be excluded. During Jesus' earthly ministry, people of Palestine preferred to drink good cold water. A cup of cold water, if available, was not expensive. Jesus use an example that applied to everyone. Even a very poor person could help the mission of Jesus by offering His workers some cold water along the way. Wealth and status are no barrier to serving Jesus' mission by giving assistance to His laborers. Our gift of support gives those leaders bounce-back power.
Gratitude has the effect of helping leaders stay in the race. It guides them to take an optimistic, solution-oriented approach to the challenges that they encounter in life. Appreciation services are extremely important to building resilience. Resilience, in turn, improves our overall quality of life by enabling us to bounce back from the hardships we face. David’s mighty men had no Idea how that water from the well at Bethlehem would encouraged David. David had been on his way to the throne for 20 years, he is closer now than he has ever been. Discouragement has set in, his obstacles seemed greater, and the pressure is mounting. David was asking, “Where is God today?” “Does anyone care for my soul?” “Is there any refreshment for me?” He remembers showing up exhausted at Bethlehem’s well and how the water refreshed him long ago. Now everything feels far away. David’s men sensed his need and fought their way to Bethlehem. The water did not solve all David’s problems, but it gave him a push! It said, somebody loves me, appreciates me, and understands me, and somebody believes in me! The water was all they had, but it was more than enough. What you have may be small, but it is enough. So, give it cheerfully. After all—you’ve got nothing to lose, and so much to gain! You can honor and celebrate your leaders, bring glory to God, improve your mental health, improve your physical health, builds stronger social bonds, and be sure you will in no wise lose your reward. Amen.
