Do you consider yourself a happy and contented Christian? Or do you see the darker side of things and a cup that is half empty rather than half full? Are you satisfied or unsatisfied – always hoping for more? What is the source of your joy and contentment?

Mephibosheth’s life-long wonder was why King David ever spared him. Back then, new kings always ‘disappeared’ the close relatives of their predecessors to reduce the risk of a coup. But King David was different. He actively sought out the son of Jonathon, the grandson of King Saul, to show him kindness and favour.

King David, in showing grace, went above and beyond all the norms and standards of kindness. He showered Mephibosheth with numerous blessings, including extensive property holdings and a permanent seat at the King’s banquet table — into perpetuity.

Amazing grace! It makes me think about how God treats me because of Christ.

However, Absalom, King David’s own son, then staged a coup. Many people switched their allegiance to Absalom. A few remained loyal to the King. As David fled, Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba met him with loads of goodies.

When the King asked Ziba about Mephibosheth, he responded: “Oh, he stayed in the royal city. He’s rubbing his hands with glee. He said that with you out of the way, he would finally get his grandfather’s throne back.” 

David said: “Well, if that’s the case, Ziba – all the blessings I originally gave to Mephibosheth, I am transferring to you.”

That was a nasty lie, Ziba!

Meanwhile, Mephibosheth stayed behind, broken-hearted over the rebellion against his King, David. “No, I am not cutting my toenails. No, I am not washing my feet. I don’t care what I look like. I am in deep mourning over the loss of the King, who was the center of my life. I will not trim my moustache nor will I comb my beard — ever again, until the King returns. I am not apologizing for my looks or my hygiene — I refuse to wash my clothes. If ever there were a broken heart, it’s mine. I am in total grief over the loss of my King.”

When Absalom’s coup failed, King David sternly asked Mephibosheth why he had not shown his support earlier. “Why didn’t you come out to meet me when your servant Ziba came?”

‘O King, you know I have physical limitations. I relied on Ziba to get the donkeys ready for me, but he took off without me and then told you I was a traitor. Nothing could be further from the truth. O King, do whatever you want with me — as long as you know you’re like an angel of God to me. I never deserved anything from you but judgment. Instead, you brought me to your banqueting table!”

Upon hearing Mephibosheth’s side of the story, King David gave him back some of the blessings he had earlier transferred to Ziba. But here is Mephibosheth’s response:

And Mephibosheth said to the King, “Let him (Ziba) even take it all, since my lord the King has come safely to his own house.” 2 Samuel 19:30

“O King, here’s what makes me happy: Y-O-U! Ziba can, literally, have it all. He can have the land holdings, the buildings, and the servants. My source of contentment and joy is not found in those things, but rather in my relationship with the King Himself. I can lose it all, but if I still have you, then I have everything.”

The Apostle Paul said:

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Paul went on to say:

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him … My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings … Philippians 3:7-11

What makes me happy today? Or, a more appropriate way to word the question is: What or who is the source of my joy? Do you have the clarity that Mephibosheth had regarding the joy of his life and the source of his fulfillment? Can I echo Paul’s sentiments when it comes to what or who gives my life its definition?

Psalm 144:15 says it so succinctly: Happy (or, joyful indeed) are the people whose God is the LORD.