Being Conceited

2 Samuel 24: 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.”

² So the king said to Joab and the army commanders^[a] 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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¹⁵ So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 

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“They won’t cut us!” I rationalized to my group.  We are the technology group, “They need us” I said to my team. As I walked the halls, I didn’t feel worried at all; in fact I started getting the papers together to grow my team from groups who would have large cuts.

Of course when the dust settled, twenty five percent of my team was gone and we had to work harder with fewer people. Morale was in the dumps and I had to explain how life was going to be “better.”

• When I think I can’t be touched, I am blind.
• When I think I can’t be taken down, I am on my way out.
• When I think I can’t be beat, I am already defeated.

David wanted to see how powerful he had become for the simple purpose of feeding his ego. I too had my ego fed as I walked around, having a team who could cater to my every whim. It actually felt good to strive to get to the top and actually reaching it. The problem was I thought the title was the destination.

• GOD raises me up for HIS purpose not my ego.
• GOD places me above what I can handle and wants me to take my responsibility seriously.
• GOD brings me groups of people to point to HIM rather than pointing to myself.

GOD doesn’t need another noisy person ranting about themselves. HE hates the arrogant and confuses their words. GOD wants me to rely on HIS power, HIS might and HIS everlasting love. HE doesn’t want me cowering in the corner. HE wants me to bravely move forward trusting that HE knows what HE is doing.

• Are you counting your cash?
• Are you comparing yourself to your neighbors or other people?
• Can you trust GOD enough to allow HIM to get the credit for your accomplishments?