Set Uriah in the forefront where the fighting is hottest and fiercest. Then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and die.”

2 Samuel 11:15

This is one of the lowest degradations of a man’s heart—that a man should plot the death of an innocent man and execute it to the very last detail. David abused his power and stooped so low in an attempt to cover his own lust and preserve himself.

It is a fulfilment of what the Bible says in Jeremiah:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

The truth is that only Jesus can truly know the heart of a man, and only Jesus can change the heart of a man. Even the best of men can become the worst of sinners if they do not surrender their hearts and desires to the Lord.

We must be careful not to abuse our positions to give ourselves the best of food, the best of wine, and whatever else satisfies the lusts of our hearts, while forgetting that we are called to use our positions of leadership and influence to serve others around us.

The Bible speaks of those whose belly is their god:

“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:19)

There are many men today who have made their bellies their god, both literally and spiritually. They use their positions of service and influence to enrich themselves, feed their lusts, and satisfy their own desires, while showing little sympathy for those they were meant to serve.

Some people have literally made food their god. Others have made fame, power, influence, wealth, or material possessions their god. Whatever controls your decisions more than God does has become your god.

Sadly, we see replicas of David’s actions even in the church today. Men trample on others through strife, gossip, backbiting, murmuring, and complaining in order to achieve status, favouritism, and recognition. The heart of man is selfish, self-centred, and driven by self-preservation. Only the Lord can truly make a difference in such a heart.

What is particularly striking about David’s actions is that he showed no sympathy for the consequences. He did not care that he was killing a man. He did not care that he would make a woman a widow. He was consumed by the need to protect himself and satisfy his own desires.

In the same way today, many people are overwhelmed by greed and a desperate need to serve themselves and feed their lusts. David’s sin in this passage was lust for a woman. What is yours?

Is it lust for fame? Lust for power? Lust for influence? Lust for food? Lust for material possessions? The list is endless.

We need to examine our hearts and identify the desires that have taken God’s place. Our bellies must not become our god. We must learn to be selfless, to think about the consequences of our actions, and to remember that God has called us, both as leaders and as His children, to serve others sacrificially.

It is not enough to say we are serving and then list all the things we do. The true test comes when the lusts of our hearts are challenged. Can we overcome them? Can we put others before ourselves? Can we truly serve when it costs us something?

Today, take a moment to look into your heart and ask yourself:

Is my belly my god?

Thank you for reading, and may God bless you immeasurably!

Always me,

Obioma

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