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Once forgiven by his father, the king, Absalom wastes no time pursuing his true motive: to take the throne from David. By wooing the Israelite people through false acts of humility, he begins to accrue a following. Eventually, he sent secret messengers out to the tribes of Israel, declaring he was being made king. Absalom made it look like he had the support of Jerusalem locals, so King David fled for fear of being overthrown.

Have you ever thought, “If only I were in charge, things would be different!”? If you answered “yes,” then I’m not alone! Like Absalom, it can be easy to try and control the narrative in our home, office, and social life by winning people’s affection or trust for self-gain. Ultimately, relying on deception to advance ourselves or our agenda destroys our relationships and compromises our character.

When I am tempted to fake my way into an advantage, it helps me to slow down and bring the situation before God. It could sound like, “God, I disagree with my boss/husband/friend and believe my way is right. But I will release the situation to you. Help me to speak only constructive feedback from a place of humility or not at all. My hands are open.” More often than not, my integrity is spared, and I begin to see the situation with clearer eyes.

Final Exhortation: Jesus tells us in His Word that “those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Release your desire for control to the Lord and trust Him to exalt you when you seek to serve rather than use others.

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