Our society has a love affair with power. Business people wear “power” suits. People have “power” lunches. People who want to get rich play powerball. But you can’t be a powerplayer and a peacemaker at the same time. In our text, David has an opportunity to take shots at his enemy Saul, who has been recently killed in battle. David could gloat, but instead he mourns Saul’s death and speaks of Saul’s greatness.

What do you do when you have a chance for a powerplay, especially with your enemies? When you have an opportunity to make a fellow employee look bad? When you have a chance to spread a rumor about someone? When it would be easy to retaliate against an opponent? Abuse of power is almost always the issue in troubled marriages, troubled churches, and troubled governments.

Powerplays always begin with an attitude. With powerplayers, the push for power has come to shove. That’s why Jesus tells us of being poor in spirit before He tells us of being peacemakers. Peacemakers are filled with humility: powerbrokers are filled with hubris. Powerplayers disrupt peace, while peacemakers refuse to play powergames.

Why not choose to be a peacemaker today?