Confidence in Numbers

There is little doubt in our minds that 2014 is going to be a year of exceptional growth and success for our business. It would be easy to sit back and enjoy the fruit of our labor, that will not be the case for us.

Recently I read a statement by the performer Sting made during a TV interview some years ago. He said, “Success and happiness are not the same thing.” He turned, looked directly into the camera and said, “I’m going to repeat that. Success and happiness are not the same thing”.

Surviving success has become one of my greatest tasks in life. I know that may not make sense to some folks, but it is at the top of my list. With success comes rewards; financial, personal, notoriety and numerous other perks. Unfortunately, it also comes with stress, long days, tough decisions, little family time and in general a sense of being hurried from one task to the next.

The only way I know to stay grounded against the pitfalls of success is through my relationship with the Lord. I believe as long as I understand who my source is, I can maintain my perspective against the worlds view of success, happiness and how I should live my life.

Staying connected with Papa is more important now than ever. He remains my guiding light, my stronghold, to Him goes all the glory!

Blessings

Confidence in Numbers
by Os Hillman

“David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.’” – 2 Samuel 24:10

It just seems to be human nature. As we grow in wealth and ability, our confidence moves from complete trust in the Lord to trust in our resources. King David decided one day that he needed to know how many fighting men he had in his army. This was a grievous sin in the nation of Israel. God always made it clear to the nation that He, not their army, was their source. It was against the law of God to number the troops. David’s general, Joab, knew the serious nature of such an action.

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?” (2 Samuel 24:3)

Joab knew that David was treading in dangerous waters when he brought up the idea to him. But David had it in his mind that this is what he was going to do. And he did. The result: God judged David for this sin by smiting the nation with a plague that resulted in the loss of 70,000 lives.

Recently, I was having lunch with a former stockbroker who lost everything in the 1987 stock crash in the United States. He made an interesting comment. “You cannot know how to fully trust the Lord in the financial area until you really have to. When I lost everything, I was forced to trust Him when I knew I could not pay my next bill unless God provided. This was the time I learned to trust God. I never had to trust God before I lost my money because I had plenty. We don’t willingly enter this level of trust with God.”

Ask God today to keep you from trusting in your own resources. Ask Him how to balance trust and blessing from Him this day.