Don’t Trust in Flesh
When wise stewardship turns into sinful pride
===
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:5 (ESV)
===
One of the sins that King David committed was running a census of his army.
… Kind of a weird thing for God to declare a sin, right?
Well, this verse helps clear that up.
See, the reason that kings would run a census of their army was to get a gauge on how many troops they had. Some would use this for practical reasons (knowing what resources they had for going into battle) while others would boast in the numbers.
But God is far greater than any army out there.
God wanted the kings to rely on Him, not their own strength.
He still wants us to rely on Him today.
Sure, it’s wise to know our resources for any situation we face. For example, it’s a great idea to be running a budget and tracking your spending within your own household. Otherwise you might wake up one day without any money and wondering where it all went.
Yet relying on God is also wisdom.
In fact, if we take the words of this verse into their harshest tones, then we are cursed if we rely on the strength of mankind to save us. This would be creating an idol in the place of God.
Thou shalt have no other gods before the Lord.
If I were to create this idol in my life, then my heart would be turning to it and turning away from the Lord.
Jesus took on the curse in our place so we could have eternal life.
Good news indeed.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.