Trust? in Whom?

I am a statistics kind of person and I am analytical. So numbers sometimes mean more to me than they should. A danger when numbers are the focus, is a misdirected trust. What happens to us when we are blessed by the Lord? In Whom do we place our trust?

There is a record of a part of King David's life that is sobering and humbling to say the least. The story strikes fear into my heart--because of how close it hits me at times, 1 Chronicles 21. King David ordered a census to be taken of his men. The problem wasn't the census, the problem was the motivation, the reason behind the census. By counting his men, his army, he proved to himself and those around him, how powerful his army was. Reliance and pride in "might."

Very often when we "take a census" of what we have or don't have, our trust becomes focused on what we can do or what we can't do. Our own "might" becomes the object of our trust. This happens in our relationships, our finances, our day to day provisions, every aspect. This also happens to pastors and church leaders concerning the Lord's work in and through His church.

David had forgotten that it was the Lord who blessed him with the kingdom and the army. He had forgotten that the army and the kingdom were actually the Lord's. David had also forgotten that the number of soldiers in the army had no bearing on what the Lord would do or not. The object of David's trust and hope had become his own might.

The Lord said through Zechariah, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almight. (Zechariah 4:6)

The Psalmist writes, "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love" (Pslam 33:16-18).

Don't get caught up in taking census in your own might or ability, seeing this as your source of hope. This develops two harmful attitudes--it either produces pride or hopelessness. Pride that says, "Look at me. Look at what I have done. Look at what I can do." Or hopelessness that says, "I'm doomed. I don't have what I need or what it takes. I'll never make it."

Put your trust in the Lord, for he will lift you up and do amazingly more than what we are able to imagine or even comprehend.

For members of Journey--the Lord has, is, and will do amazing things in and through us for His Glory. Put your hope and trust in Him!!