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DAY THREE
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).
Does being great mean always doing everything yourself? Of course not. A quarterback has a team to support him. The President of the United States has a Cabinet to advise him. A CEO has a Board of Directors to help guide the company in a positive direction. Great men and women don’t try to do everything and be everything on their own. No, they surround themselves with people they can trust to steer them in the right direction.
We see this clearly illustrated in David’s life. David was not a great king because he had it all together and knew exactly how to handle every situation. Rather, he was a great king because he understood his strengths and relied on others to fill in the gaps where he was weak. David was willing to accept wise counsel. Joab was one of his commanders and a trusted advisor, and most of the time, David heeded what he said.
One day, however, the king decided to take a census. Why was this a problem? David’s sin was in his motive. He was counting the people—specifically arms-bearing men—as a way to measure and demonstrate his accomplishments and strength as king. He lost sight of the fact that his strength had always come from God alone, not through any personal ability or military might.
Joab urged David to reconsider, but the king ignored his advice and demanded the census take place. The consequences were severe. First Chronicles 21:14 says, “The Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.” Pride prevented David from listening to wise counsel and forced him to learn a difficult lesson in a very painful way.
No one can reach greatness alone. We have all been divinely disabled. God has done this so we will learn to depend on Him and other people. Moses was chosen to lead the children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt, but he was “slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10). The apostle Paul wrote much of the New Testament, but he wasn’t an impressive public speaker (see 2 Corinthians 11:6). Both men were great leaders, but they had to rely on God and other gifted believers to reach their full potential.
Do you have someone in your life to whom you are accountable? When you struggle with something, are you willing to seek wise counsel?
Psalm 16:7-8
Proverbs 1:5
Proverbs 12:15
About this Plan
Have you ever worried that your failures have disqualified you from God’s plan for your life? David was hand-picked by God Himself to be king, yet he made many mistakes. Still, this man understood his divine call to greatness, and you can too.
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