Pride

(May 25th's reading)

2 Samuel 7:1-8:18

John 14:15-31

Psalm 119:33-48

Proverbs 15:33

It's no secret that fame and fortune get to people's heads. It's basically the first thing I think when I see a child star...I worry about what life will do to them. It's not just a Hollywood thing necessarily, though it's certainly the abuse and pressures there that cause so many problems. But the issue of pride is very severe. It's not just movie stars...it's people, you and me. People who start to feel superior and cocky... pride can happen to anyone and King David could have easily been one.

King David started from low beginnings to be sure but he very quickly became very popular. He was still so young when people sang songs about him in the streets...sing-songing that he was better than the current king at battle. He acquired many wives (yuck). He was pretty much successful in everything he set out to do, particularly in battle. And then he became king and given a palace and then a big fat promise from the Almighty God that David's line's reign would never end. David's throne is staying for every single following generation until one day one of David's sons secures the throne from all of eternity.

So this is a lot to take in and for us now it's pretty obvious that the King He's talking about is Jesus...Son of David...born in the city of David...

But David can't know that. The whole concept of Jesus is pretty much bonkers: God in the flesh, virgin birth, crucifixion, the defeat of death...I mean, it's nothing David could have possibly imagined.

But this Word from God is the stuff that might make someone a little cocky. God is going to make your line king forever? That's awesome...

But instead of getting proud "King David went in and sat before the Lord and he said: 'Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant--and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human?'"

I don't know what God has for me in this life...but I certainly hope and pray that wherever I go I keep this perspective. I am small and God is big. May I never take whatever blessings God gives me for granted. May I never feel like God owes me anything. I'm sure David didn't always do this perfectly, but I hope that I can be like David in the face of blessings like this...grateful, humble, and worshipful.