1 Samuel 25:10-11 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 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?”
It’s a funny world we live in. Did you know that the universe has more than seven billion centers? “What”, I hear you say, “What astronomy books have you been reading?” Well, none really. It’s really just a silly reflection on how I feel about the way some of the people (well most of them really) seem to see themselves. Really. Seven billion of the people on this good earth seem to think they’re each the center of the universe. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself what makes people behave the way they do in some common situations.
How about on the road? Why do people shoot across from the left lane to the right lane, straight in front of you? Because they need to get over there, that’s why. “Oh, there were other people in the way? – Well they should know better – get of my way!”
What about at the grocery store? (Where, by the way, people push their trolleys like they drive …). How is it that people get into that “ten items or less” line with twenty items. “Well I’m in a hurry …don’t you get that?”
I think this guy Nabal (whose name means “fool” by the way) would have fit in well with the seven billion. David’s men had been working hard for him – but when it came to party time he wasn’t thinking about them. Oh no. “Why should I take MY bread, and water, and meat and share it”. Nabal was at the center of the universe and he couldn’t see where he was getting anything out of being civil … so no sharing.
How about you. Are you one of the seven billion centers of the universe? Sometimes? I am, but as I was having my quiet time this morning I was thinking about focus. And something came to me.
In our weekend services, our church has an invitation. People come forward and acknowledge their acceptance of Jesus as Lord, or other important faith-driven decisions. We always sing a suitable song, and one of my favorites is the one that Helen Lemmel wrote in 1922. The chorus seemed to be to the point:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

If I find myself at the center of my own little universe, I try to look to Jesus. When I’m focused on His wonderful face, I don’t feel so important. Try it. If you find yourself feeling the world should be rotating around you, try looking to Jesus. Suddenly, He’ll be at the center. There’ll be one center to the universe, and that’s how it should be!