LBS: Betrayal

Betrayal

Betrayal is a universal, human experience. It happens in every arena of life and takes on many forms. Betrayal can bring about some very powerful, negative emotions and even cause mental, emotional or even  spiritual trauma. Because we are human and we cannot totally avoid interaction with other humans, we are all vulnerable to the pain caused by betrayal. Betrayal is nothing new. From the Garden of Eden and on through the Bible we can find stories of people suffering some type of betrayal. Jesus himself suffered betrayal several times and He made it clear that it was and would be part of life on earth Matt 24:10

The people you do the most for and give to, the ones you really care about, share with and trust, are the very ones who betray you and bring you distress. This reality is well illustrated in the account of David and the men of Keilah. 1Sam 23:1-13 David and his men were on the run from King Saul and his army. During this time, David received word that the Philistines were attacking the livelihood of the city of Keilah which was in Judah. He and his men delivered Keilah from the Philistines. When Saul heard it, he decided he would tell his army that they were going to attack the Philistines in Keilah, but in reality Saul was out to get David. The very men that David had risked his life for, risked his own meant rebelling against him because they didn't want to go to Keilah in the first place, the same city he had helped and liberated in their time of distress, were the very ones willing to betray David to his enemy, Saul. It's nice to think that the people you love and help out will be so appreciative toward you for the rest of your life. But, the reality is that they will sometimes turn against you.

Suffering betrayal can often cause us to feel angry, it can bring a desire for justice or retaliation, it can even make us cynical and cause us to distance and isolate ourselves from others. Jesus tells us not to be shocked or scandalized when we are betrayed by those we have helped. (John 16:1) Although the emotions felt as a result of betrayal are extremely strong, there are at least three reasons why retaliation or isolation are not the answer.

The first reason is that helping, loving, sharing, and giving to others brings about a satisfaction and fulfillment that cannot be obtained any other way. David experienced this in the physical realm. His men were constantly on the run from Saul, so supplies were very limited and they were often hungry. After their fight, they took the Philistine's cattle. Their hunger was literally satisfied. Jesus experienced this while he was resting at the well and his disciples had gone into the city to buy food. He shared and ministered with the woman who came to the well. When his disciples returned Jesus was so fulfilled in his Spirit that it satisfied his physical hunger. (John 4:27-34) Doing good to others is God's will for our lives because he wants us to experience the blessing of satisfaction and the spiritual growth that comes with it.

Second, there are eternal rewards. (Matt 5:11-12) When you are betrayed, talked about and put down after you've done good to someone, you will be rewarded in heaven. Do something for someone who can't pay you back or who may even return the favor in a negative way, there are eternal dividends. (Luke 14:12-14)

Third, we need to remember that we ourselves are no better than those who have betrayed us. Everyone of us have at sometime betrayed, disappointed, talked about, or hurt someone else. We just end to forget the wrong we have done others. We don't read about David being angry at the men of Keilah because he must have remembered that he had caused pain and heartache just a few chapters earlier. the high priest was so willing to help David and to feed his men; and then David lied to him. His lie caused the death of the high priest and 85 other priests. David remembered how he had betrayed someone who had helped him out. When others disappoint or betray us, may we not be quick to judge or retaliate, but may god help us to remember the times we dropped the ball on others.


Questions:

1. What is the first thing that comes to ming when you hear the word "betrayal"?

2. Name the feelings or emotions a person might feel when they've been betrayed?

3. Give an example of how a person might betray another unintentionally?

4. How would God have us to respond to betrayal and why is isolation or retaliation not an appropriate response?

5. Are you currently facing a betrayal either by a person, a group or an organization or have you betrayed someone recently? What do you think would be an appropriate response to that betrayal?


Learn more about what suffering betrayal can do to you if you let it and what God's Word says we need to do with it at the next LBS.