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Numbers


So often, I am guilty of measuring success with numbers. For example, I can look back at the statistics of this blog and see how the post visits have dwindled over time. Many people associate success with the number of dollars on a paycheck. I was ecstatic when my Facebook page reached over one thousand followers (another number). As a teacher, I-along with my colleagues-are measured by the number of students who achieve success in our classroom.

And here’s where the enemy comes in and causes me to question. Did I really hear from God when I felt the call to write? Am I being effective in my encouragement? Lately, I have felt conflicted over the numbers.

It’s so important that we don’t allow the numbers to define our personal value. Sociologists are now seeing a trend in teenagers and young adults that they associate their number of “friends” or “likes” with their self-worth. This is a tragedy. Countless times, I have told my children and my students that these arbitrary digits don’t define them. 

King David went outside of God’s will to determine the size of his kingdom. You would think that David, the man after God’s own heart, would refrain from doing something to anger God. Well, that wasn’t the case. Even after being warned by his captain of the guard, David sends out his men to count “his kingdom.”

Having gone through the entire land for nine months and twenty days, they returned to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of people to the king. There were 800,000 capable warriors in Israel who could handle a sword, and 500,000 in Judah. (Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Scripture goes on to reveal that as a result of David’s choice, God caused a plague to come upon the land and 70,000 people died. David once again repented, and God spared Israel further destruction.

This story was always a curiosity to me. Why would a little bit of counting do so much harm? In recent years, I have come to understand the heart behind David’s census. He was numbering his subjects to measure his own success and conquests. He wanted the numbers of his kingdom to be great and revered by other nations. The truth is, Israel belonged to God.

At the end of the day, the only number that matters is the one who needs to hear whatever God has given you to share. One weary soul who needs encouragement is the reason I keep writing every week. So how do you measure up? Are you counting page likes, post likes, and followers to determine your worth? Or is belonging to the Creator of Heaven and Earth enough to define you?

© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

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