Without Barzillai the history of God's people might have been vastly different. In one of the saddest events in the Bible, King David's son Absalom revolted against his father and attempted to take the throne by force. David and his men had to flee for their lives, and by the time they reached the vicinity of Barzillai's home they were out of supplies and in danger of starvation. But Barzillai came to their aid and David's army was saved.
Barzillai was eighty  when this happened and he easily could have said," I'm too old to do anything," or " It's too risky; what if Absalom wins?" But he didn't. He step up and step out to help.
" Now Barzillai was averyold man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim." - 2 Samuel 19:32

Is faith illogical, as some would have you believe? No, not at all. Some of the most brilliant people I have ever known were also people of deep faith in Christ, and without exception they said they believed in the Gospel because it made sense. Believing our intricate world happened by accident, they said, takes more faith than believing in God!
But there is another reason for their faith: They were convinced Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be: God in human flesh, sent to save us from our sins. I think of C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel and others who search for the truth and found Him.
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."- Romans 1:20

Once we come to Christ we are no longer just individuals. We are no members of Hs family- what the Bible calls "the church, his body". We are now part of that vast group of people throughout the ages who have trusted Christ and are our brothers and sisters in His family. Although we'll never meet most of them this side of eternity, we're still united spiritually with them. This transcends any local church or denomination; it includes all who truly belong to Christ. The local church of which God includes you is your family. Some have the idea they can go from family to family and still be effective in His kingdom. Not so!
" Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." - Ephesians 5:23

Life is hard, and our years on earth are marked by "trouble and sorrow." As someone has said, there is no false advertising in the Bible.
We wish it weren't so, of course; maybe that's why we're so quick to believe the advertisements that promise happiness if we'll only use their product.
We live in a world that is broken because of sin, and we share in its brokenness.
What difference should this make? First, it should give us greater compassion for others. Second, it should makes us yearn for Heaven even more.
" The length of our days is seventy years...yet their span is but trouble and sorrow." Psalm 90:10

Some years ago I was going through a difficult time and became depressed. I was functional to a point but I would go in my office and for hours stare at the wall, totally depressed. I cried out to God please help me. Then one day, a fellow youth minister, was driving down the freeway and God spoke to him and said go speak to Lynn. He pulled off the freeway, came into the church, walked into my office where I was sitting , pointed his finger at me and said," You have lost your joy." He turned around and walked out. The open rebuke shook me and I remember ," The joy of the Lord is your strength"( Nehemiah 8:10).
The depression left me and I have never been in that state of depression again even though I get down way too often.
You see God comes through.