Make It Count.

2 Samuel 24

3 Ways We Make Our Lives Count.

1. Quit Counting The Wrong Things.

10 But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.”

2 Samuel 24:10 [NLT]

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Psalm 8:3-4 [NIV]

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7 [NIV]

12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.”

Exodus 30:12 [NIV]

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Proverbs 29:25 [NIV]

2. Learn To Let Mercy Validate You.

14 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

2 Samuel 24:14 [NIV]

8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.

Psalm 56:8 [NLT]

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:14 [NIV]

3. Start Making It Count.

24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

2 Samuel 24:24 [NIV]

5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Psalm 126:5 [NIV]

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4 [NKJV]

3 While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.

Mark 14:3 [NIV]

1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Luke 21:1-4 [NKJV]