Twenty-two contestants, ages 60 to 75, want a rose from a 72-year-old bachelor, and they are pulling out all the stops to get one on the network television dating show, The Golden Bachelor. One showed up in a limo with a wig, nightgown and walker before pulling off the costume to reveal a sparkling gown. Another arrived with a basket of eggs and told the golden bachelor her eggs were still “very fresh.” Then there was the candidate who arrived in her “birthday suit” — a nude bodysuit under her robe—to make a point (and I think she did).
If you really want to get a rose—to attract a good person whether male, female, old, young who will be a blessing to you—then be a rose as someone who has qualities beyond outward gazes, yet inner deceptions—like Abigail. She showed up before David without limo with more than beauty (1 Sam. 25:3). She arrived with the qualifies of wisdom, humility and loyalty.
Here is her backstory in 1 Samuel 25.
David was on the run from King Saul who wanted to kill him. Wherever David hid out he provided protection for the inhabitants and their livestock. In return David asked that the people he protected give him and his 400 men food and water. But Nabal of the territory of Maon, though wealthy, was a harsh man. He insulted David refused hospitality to him and his men. In response, David decided to kill Nabal and his entire household. So, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, interceded with her rose-attractive qualities.
Wisdom is attractive. When Abigail learned that David was going to kill her family because of her evil husband’s actions, she responded with wisdom. She came to David with food.
27"Now let this gift which your maidservant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who accompany my lord.
Humility is attractive. Though Abigail had done nothing to offend David as Nabal had done, she took responsibility for her husband’s deeds. She asked for forgiveness and beseeched the blessings on David; that he would not suffer guilt of senseless bloodshed.
28"Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant; for the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil will not be found in you all your days.
Loyalty is attractive. Abigail showed loyalty to God recognizing that David was God’s anointed. And despite the evil character of her husband, Nabal did not abandon her vows to him. She told him when the time was appropriate what she had done to save his life.
30"And when the LORD does for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel, 31this will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause. 37But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things.
With these roses of wisdom, humility and loyalty, Abagail received David’s rose. When Nabal died of a failed heart at the hand of God, David took Abagail as his wife. He was attracted to an attractive woman for all the best reasons—not out of just outward beauty, but inward graces. For those graces, she was not left abandoned. God gave her roses.
If you really want to get a rose—attract a good person whether male, female, old, young, black, brown or white who will be a blessing to you—then be a rose, someone who has qualities beyond outward dressings, yet inner deceptions—like Abigail who was worthy of her bouquet.
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