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T O D A Y    G O D    I S    F I R S T
                  Marketplace Meditations
                       by Os Hillman

Placing Trust in Our Strength

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of
Israel fell dead.
- (1 Chronicles 21:14)


When was the last time your overconfidence cost the lives of
70,000 men? That is exactly what happened to David. David made
what might appear to be an innocent request of his general, Joab.
But the minute Joab heard the request, he cringed. He knew David
was in big trouble for this one. You see, to number the troops
was a great sin in Israel because it was against the law. Why?
Because it demonstrated that you were placing more trust in
numbers than in the living God. David displayed enough pride to
cost the lives of 70,000 fighting men. God gave him three choices
of punishment for his sin. A plague was the one he chose, and it
resulted in the loss of 70,000.

Throughout Israel's history, God set the stage for battles to be
won, miracles to take place, and people to exercise faith. The
stage was always set so that man could not take credit for what
God did. Consider Gideon who was only allowed 300 men to fight an
army of 100,000. Consider Jehoshaphat, who had to lead his army
with his singers. God defeated the enemy. Consider Joshua, who
was told simply to walk around Jericho seven times, and they
would get victory. God did things in some very unconventional
ways!

How does this relate to you and me as businesspeople? Well, the
minute you and I place more trust in our abilities than in God,
we are guilty of numbering the troops. How does He punish us?
Sometimes it's through letting a deal go sour. Sometimes it's
through problems with a client or vendor. Sometimes situations
just blow up in our face. Other times, He lets us go on for a
long time doing our own thing, but eventually He deals with it.

The lesson here is to learn daily and complete dependence on God.
Use your gifts and abilities through the power of the Holy
Spirit. Ask Him daily for direction and wisdom. His ways won't
always line up with conventional wisdom. When we begin depending
on our abilities only, God has a responsibility to make known to
us who is the giver of the blessings.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Author's Note * * * * * * *

What are the hindrances that keep you and I from living
fully for Christ? What motivates us to destructive behavior?
How can I rid myself of bad habits? Read a feature article
published by Money Matters newsletter from Christian
Financial Concepts (Now Crown Ministries) on Os Hillman's
personal Testimony regarding the influence of spiritual
strongholds. Request the free article by sending an email to
strongholds@quicktell.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Published and distributed by Crosswalk.com, this daily devotional is
written by Os Hillman (os@marketplaceleaders.org).  Os is president of
Marketplace Leaders, an Atlanta based ministry teaching Biblical
principles for career and business success.  He offers a FREE newsletter
and other resources at:
http://www.marketplaceleaders.org

Order "TGIF: Today God I s  First" - 365 daily meditations to motivate
and inspire for $17 for TGIF subscribers. Click here to order:

http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/displayroom/skudetail.nhtml?uid=10055

To support Os Hillman  & Marketplace Leaders , click:
 https://nhf.org/applications/donate.htm?FDN=Marketplace%2BLeaders

Mail: 3520 Habersham Club Drive, Cumming, Georgia 30041 USA.


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