The End Does Not Justify The Means

How we accomplish our goals is as important as the accomplishments themselves. #daybydaylw Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   Did you win the game? Did you make the grade? Do well on the test? Did you get the raise? Did you finish the job?   Most of life is focused on results, outcomes. There was a time towards the end of my academic life, that I stopped caring about hard work, effort output, and was only concerned about one thing—finishing the degree.   But we all should know that the end does not always justify the means. Winning a game by the means of cheating tarnishes the win. Getting the raise by means of sabotaging co-workers discredits your own work. Completing your homework by copying someone else’s negates the point.   It is not just the end that matters, but also the means.   How you get to a goal is just as important as the goal itself.   In the unfolding drama of 2 Samuel, which is about David ascending to the throne of Israel, uniting Israel into one kingdom, we have been watching different people employ different means in order to try and accomplish the goal and unite the kingdom. We have seen political prowess, pandering, polygamy, and murder. And underlying, or should we say superseding all of this is the sovereignty and providence of God, who takes even the sin of man and makes it serve His decreed purposes.   Over the next few days we will watch one more attempt by some to try and impress King David with their ability to bring fruition God’s promise of a Davidic Kingdom, but it will not end well for them.