The Big Three
2 Samuel 24:1-4 NIV
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."
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."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
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?"
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.
David was on top of the world. He had won. He ruled Israel as king. Everything was his - power. wealth. prestige. respect. He had it all. So what did he do? He decided to take a census. He wanted to know just how many men he had in his army. He wanted to know just how powerful this nation he had built really was. The Big Three had taken over - Power, Pride and Greed. David didn't need to know how powerful his army was. He didn't need to know what a great job he had done. And he certainly didn't need any more money or possessions. But all of a sudden, he forgot who had gotten him to where he was. He overlooked the fact that one man can outnumber an army if God is doing the fighting - just as David had done in his youth when he confronted Goliath. At this moment, David placed his faith not in God Almighty, but in himself and in what he could do. Later, David realized what he had done (2 Samuel 24:10 NIV), but for the time being, he definitely got off track.
again. where his walk with God Almighty was concerned.
The same thing happens to you and me. When we're on the bottom. when we're out of work or in the middle of a divorce or suffering from one failure after another. we cling desperately to the Lord's hand. And each time He allows us to succeed through our trials, we don't hesitate to give Him full credit for what He is doing. But then we start to have a lot of success. We climb back up the ladder. We get a new job and a promotion. We achieve a position that allows us more and more power. We get a lot of compliments, a lot of reassurance, and sometimes, a lot of money. And then we become just like David - depending on our own position. our own ability. our own power. rather than on God. We even stop acknowledging His roll in what we're doing. We stop giving Him credit for our success. Inevitably, just like David, we start doing things that don't agree with God's commandments. We start taking matters into our own hands, rather than asking God what He would have us do. We've had a taste of power and money. We want more and more and more. And the Big Three take over - Power, Pride and Greed.
In every success that you have, remember who gave it to you. Remember who gave you your talents and abilities. Remember who opened the doors for you on the road to success. And remember who is able to close those doors just as quickly as He opened them - especially if you allow power, pride and greed to come between you and Him.
Used with Permission
