“What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” (2 Samuel 9:8)

Some saints need to be encouraged and some saints need to be humbled. Mephibosheth called himself a worthless, “dead dog”, and that’s exactly what he was before David showed him unmerited favor. Because he had lived as a despised cripple, it probably took him a few years before he was able to understand and return David’s love. But there were others at David’s table who thought they deserved what David gave them, and took the blessings of David for granted.

There we have the two ends of the spectrum of saints. Ministers must treat each saint according to their need. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Regarding the saint who sees himself as a crippled dead dog: “Strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13).

Regarding the self-reliant saint: God will teach you, the hard way, if necessary, “If you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth … For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:14-16).  “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit” (Philippians 2:3). “Purify your hearts, you double-minded … Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:8-10).

A dog may be a worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness, it soon learns to love his master, and is faithful unto death. Another dog must be chastened with many stripes before he can learn to trust and eventually love his master.

One thing is sure. If you’re a saint, “God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (Hebrews 12:7).