A negative mind expects to find other negative minds. 2 Samuel 10:2-4 (Amplified Bible) says, "David said, I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, as his father did to me. So David sent his servants to console him for his father's death; and they came into the land of the Ammonites, But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that it is because David honors your father that he has sent comforters to you? Has he not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, spy it out, and overthrow it? So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half their beards and cut off their garments in the middle at their hips and sent them away." David had kindness on his mind, but Hanun had distrust on his mind. Hanun assumed that certain behavior meant bad intent. He assumed that King David's words could not be taken at face value. He assumed that King David's words and behavior were a pretext to do harm to Hanun. Because Hanun assumed King David's intent and actions were bad, Hanun had no confidence in King David and then mistreated him and his servants. Good relationships require confidence in each other. Without trust mistreatment arises.
Hanun's order to have King David's servants beards shaved and their garments cut off in the middle at their hips sending them home in disgrace came from an assumption. Assumptions can get us into trouble. One of the definitions for the word "assume" according to Webster's New World Dictionary is "to seize; usurp." When we operate from an assumption, we may be afraid that someone is going to take power over us, so we take the power over them first. To take power over someone means that you want to control them.
God did not create us to be controlled by people and to operate by distrust. Believers in Jesus Christ live by faith (trust in God), which is not a possibility, but certainty in the character of God. This faith does not come from our human nature, but is God Himself working through us. The Apostle Paul expresses these concepts in Galatians 2:20 (Amplified Bible) when he says, "I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
With God living on the inside of a person, a person is able to be loving to others. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (Amplified Bible) says, "Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily."
Take time in analyzing people. God made us all different, so we are all not going to think and act exactly alike. Just because someone's behavior is not what you think it should be, does not necessarily mean it is bad and/or done with bad motives.
Haste is a waste. Proverbs 21:5 (Amplified Bible) says, "The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want." Hanun showed haste and impatience. People who do not trust others are often impatient. First impressions are not the full story. Be slow to take critical steps in a relationship. Hanun received counsel that David's intentions were bad and instead of waiting or receiving other counsel he acted swiftly on the negative counsel.
The Bible teaches us that wisdom comes from many counselors. Proverbs 11:14 (Amplified Bible) says, "Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." If you have concerns about how someone is acting, ask God and other godly people about it. We are not always right. We need the input of others for successful relationships.
Hanun's hasty assumption about King David caused him to mistreat King David's servants, to try to control the situation and to start a war. Positive results do not come from a negative source. You cannot think bad things about people; treat people bad, and then expect good results. Hanun's negative mindset led to him hiring more than 30,000 soldiers to start a war with King David that led to defeat for both the Syrians and the Ammonites and caused the Ammonites to lose Syria as an ally. 2 Samuel 10:19 says that after this experience "the Syrians were afraid to help the Ammonites any more."
A negative mind caused the break down of many relationships. God counsels us to have positive thoughts through the Apostle Paul. Philippians 4:8 (Amplified Bible) says, "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]." Imagine how different things would have turned out if Hanun had a positive mind and treated King David's servants well? Perhaps the Ammonites (modern-day Jordan), Syria and Israel would have all ended up as allies instead of enemies. Think of the ramifications for the world today.
Do not let your mind be controlled by people. Our mind is to be controlled only by God. When Hanun received counsel that corresponded to his negative mindset, he should have not only sought other counselors, he should have sought the ultimate counselor, Jesus Christ. If you have a negative mind, God is able to show you the truth about your thoughts and empower you to change. Acts 1:8 talks about the Holy Spirit of God giving us power to be witnesses. This power is not just to tell people about Jesus Christ, it is the power to live like Jesus would live. Jesus had a positive mind. He did not assume wrong things about people, mistreat people and cause wrong wars.
God is a multiple of one as in 1 X 1 X 1 = 1 (God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit) (See John 14). Seek the mind-transforming power of the Holy Spirit. This power is only available to those who have a personal relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This relationship begins by admitting to God that you are not living right, that His ways are best and giving control of your life to God. If you are sincere in doing this, God will come to live inside of you and give you life that never ends. Leaving this earthly life without God means you have missed eternal life and face God's punishment. John 3:36 (Amplified Bible) says, "And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]"
You may already have God living on the inside of you, but recognize that you are not operating in the full power that God has made available to you. Humble yourself. Talk to God. Repent of your wrong ways, and ask Him to take over your mind. Everything about us is subject to God. Since God is good, His control does not lead to negativity.
Imagine if true Christian believers actually operated in the mind of Christ. It would not be long before we would complete Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19-20 "to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you . . . "