Rely Not On Yourself

Week 19 Day 7

2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1 Thess. 2

 

2 Samuel 24:2-4

² So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

³ But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

⁴ The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

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David’s pride used his leadership power to rely on his own strength rather than God’s [by counting his military men.]

To count his men was a display of pride; not trusting in the Lord that He will fight the battle.

Sometimes, we are just like David.  We count what we have with a selfish intention – saying, “if I have this, I can do this…” rather than trusting God with what we have and allowing God to work within. 

What’s the lesson to learn?  ALWAYS TRUST GOD WITH WHAT HE CAN DO WITH US – not us, manipulating what we can possibly do to “win a battle” in life.  God is able to use what we have.  Counting our possessions is not wrong, but with David, it turned out to be something selfish – he want to see how much men he has in the military to give him hopes whether or not he is capable enough to fight.  Yes, we count but we got to trust in the Lord for the outcome and no putting our strength or reliance on our possessions.

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With what God has entrusted to my care – my family, the ministries, ministry-work, friendships, talents or abilities, etc, I must not rely on them rather, entrust to God all these things and allowing Him to move through them.  I cannot be too confident of what I have and forget about God to let Him work through.  Possibly, the reason why I may not progress in some areas is because I have trusted in my own self instead of trusting God with what I have.  The difference?  My intentions and motivations.  I must let God be the one to use what I have to bring forth His utmost glory – doing my best in things and allowing Him to mold me through and through.

NEVER be too confident that you’ll be okay because you have possessions or power.  WORK WITH GOD [cooperate with Him] for He is going to use us and let us win our battles for His name’s sake.  ALWAYS CLEAR UP my intentions and ask myself “am I relying on my own self again?  or God’s?” 

I will do my best, and let God take care of the rest; using up all that I have in my capacity to bring forth His utmost glory!

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the LORD and shun evil.

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Lord, thank you for reminding me that I ought to trust in You always.  With being faithful to my tasks, I pray that You help me remove any distractions which may cause me to start relying on my own, thinking I’ll be alright without doing certain things that I know you want me to also be faithful at.  Guide me Lord and I would only like to bring utmost glory to You in all that I do, decide, and say.  In Jesus’ name, amen.