Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

What Are You 'Counting' On?
by Tom Goodman
November 30, 2011

When you come to your census, I hope you will come to your senses.

Everyone comes to his census eventually. King David did, literally. In 2 Samuel 24, David ordered a count of the fighting men at his disposal. Even Joab thought the plan detestable. Joab was always willing to do the dirty work to keep David in power, but even he said, "David, you don't want to do this." If even Joab objected, you know this isn't going to end well. But David had his way, and enrolled every man eligible to fight.

What motivated this count? Arrogance, or ambition, or anxiety. That is, David wanted to boast in his strength (arrogance), or he was plotting a military campaign without direction from God (ambition), or he felt his nation was threatened and wanted reassurance (anxiety). Whatever the motivation, though, it betrayed a loss of faith in God.

Like David, you come to your census when you look to something other than God for your self-worth and security. In his remarkable book, Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller calls this idolatry. "An idol," he writes, "is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, 'If I have that, then I'll feel my life has meaning, then I'll know I have value, then I'll feel significant and secure.'"

But when you come to your census, I hope you come to your senses!

David is our guide here. The moment that Joab reported the number -- that number David hoped would feed his self-worth or relieve his anxiety -- it was upon hearing the report that David was conscience-stricken. "I have sinned greatly," he said. The consequences were costly: The very thing David had depended on for his worth and security -- the number of his fighters -- was reduced by 70,000 through plague. But David's repentance and God's mercy brought an end to the crisis.

Like David, we come to our senses when we return to full trust in God. In Jeremiah 9:23-24, God says, "The wise must not boast in his wisdom; the mighty must not boast in his might; the rich must not boast in his riches. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me."

We all need help in coming to our senses. So, join us this Sunday @ 10 as we let this important story develop us.

--Tom

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here.

Check out my weblog here.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here.

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
Manage Your Subscription -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe	Contact Us About Your Subscription
What Are You 'Counting' On? by Tom Goodman November 30, 2011 When you come to your census, I hope you will come to your senses. Everyone comes to his census eventually. King David did, literally. In 2 Samuel 24, David ordered a count of the fighting men at his disposal. Even Joab thought the plan detestable. Joab was always willing to do the dirty work to keep David in power, but even he said, "David, you don't want to do this." If even Joab objected, you know this isn't going to end well. But David had his way, and enrolled every man eligible to fight. What motivated this count? Arrogance, or ambition, or anxiety. That is, David wanted to boast in his strength (arrogance), or he was plotting a military campaign without direction from God (ambition), or he felt his nation was threatened and wanted reassurance (anxiety). Whatever the motivation, though, it betrayed a loss of faith in God. Like David, you come to your census when you look to something other than God for your self-worth and security. In his remarkable book, Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller calls this idolatry. "An idol," he writes, "is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, 'If I have that, then I'll feel my life has meaning, then I'll know I have value, then I'll feel significant and secure.'" But when you come to your census, I hope you come to your senses! David is our guide here. The moment that Joab reported the number -- that number David hoped would feed his self-worth or relieve his anxiety -- it was upon hearing the report that David was conscience-stricken. "I have sinned greatly," he said. The consequences were costly: The very thing David had depended on for his worth and security -- the number of his fighters -- was reduced by 70,000 through plague. But David's repentance and God's mercy brought an end to the crisis. Like David, we come to our senses when we return to full trust in God. In Jeremiah 9:23-24, God says, "The wise must not boast in his wisdom; the mighty must not boast in his might; the rich must not boast in his riches. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me." We all need help in coming to our senses. So, join us this Sunday @ 10 as we let this important story develop us. --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.