We live in a culture where things are made bigger if they can't be made better.
Crowds attract us.
The more people are part of the latest fad, or the more members the institution have, the more we are inclined to follow suit.
We mentally calculate that if so many people are doing it, it must be okay; or if so many people are part of that institution or church it must be good.
God, on the other hand, does not look at numbers.
On the contrary, He finds it offensive when we determine the value or strength of anything in terms of numbers.
An example of this is recorded in 1Chronicles 21.
God had prospered King David.
He was successful in all his ventures.
But, says the Bible, he was incited by Satan to take a census of his fighting men.
Now, taking a census in itself is not a bad thing.
In Numbers 1 and 2, God Himself ordered a census.
What was sinful about David's plan was not the plan in itself, but the motive behind it.
He was on a thin line.
He was in danger of starting to place his trust in the multitude of his army.
He was in danger of forgetting that he is not successful because of military strength, but because of God's strength and God's faithfulness.
God even provided a way out of the temptation for David, in the sound counsel of his servant, Joab.
But here David's arrogance did not allow him to listen to the godly advice of someone his junior.
At the end of the day, not only David but other people suffered the consequences of this ungodly plan.
Anything that takes the place of God in our lives is idolatry.
It is therefore important that we don't look at numbers to determine our strength, or how successful we might be, or how "anointed" our ministry is.
Men look at these things, but God looks at the heart.
He desires us to place our trust fully and completely in Him, not in numbers; or in crowds or in popular opinion, for without faith it is impossible to please God.
If we look at numbers, we don't need faith.
We trust in what we see.
But, says the Scriptures, we live by faith and not by sight.
This same King David found that his brothers looked down on him as a shepherd, because he had only a "few sheep" to care for.
God did not look at the number of sheep David was caring for.
God looked at the heart.
They saw a lowly shepherd boy, God saw a king.
His brother Eliab had the following to say to David about his sheep: When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert?" (1 Samuel 17:28a).
Once David understood how his plan to count the men, displeased God he showed great remorse.
And it was this same King David who later wrote: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Name of the LORD our God.
" Psalm 20:7 See Original Article: Click Here