2nd Samuel chapter 24.
Israel was not walking faithfully with the Lord and it appears King David was getting relaxed in his Fame for there's no mention of him being upset with their unfaithfulness. Plus he was quick to take a census and was not sensitive to wise counsel against it. Once we get off track with the Lord, we become blinded to the truth. Our hearts become hardened and we pursue the hunger of our hearts versus pursuing the heart of God. When someone gives us council, we are wise to ponder their words versus being quick to shut it down. You never know when and who God will use to help us get back on track with the Lord.
When God calls us to give up something for him, are we quick to give generously or do we try and hold on to our possessions? Araunah was willing to give up his own possession so King David could do an offering. He was willing to make the sacrifices with nothing in return. It seems our world likes to hang on to their possessions. I do it sometimes. It's hard to trust God all the time. So I give excuses why I shouldn't give up something. Whether it be helping someone financially or with certain possessions, it's not always easy to just hand it over.
Some final thoughts:
- Don't get relaxed in Ministry or with your walk with the Lord. Don't become overconfident. Stay faithful to his calling.
- Always be open to the councel of another. Evaluate it and pray about it before making a decision for it or against it.
- If there is a need presented before you, be willing to make sacrifices verses holding on to your possessions. Remember all you have is from the Lord so when you give up something it's not really yours its the Lords.
Great thoughts have been shared with us today as we complete our reading of another book of the Bible!
I was reading from Psalm 33 and thought that I would share verses 16-22.
“The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name.
Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.”
David is such an inspiration to me. He wasn’t perfect but he had a heart for God. He realized that the psalms he wrote were directed by God through His Holy Spirit. What he didn’t know was that we would be inspired by his life and writings centuries later. What a blessing to him and us.
The Bible calls David a man after God’s heart – not because he was sinless but because when he sinned, he recognized it and confessed his sins to God. David committed his life to God and remained loyal to Him throughout his lifetime. David’s heart for God is shown again when he would not accept the gifts of Araunah as his own sacrifice to God. Sacrifice is an important part of our worship and service to God.
Lord, I want to have a heart like David’s. I want to give you everything you have given me … not the leftovers of my time, my energy, my resources. I want to pay the full price. Help me to have a heart for only You.