Today, I will be talking about jealousy, and self ambition. The one subject we don't want to hear about. :) James 3:16, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder and every vile practice." I love how in this verse, it doesn't say "there will be disorder in a couple different vile practices." But "every vile practice." One of the stories that fits this most is the story of David and Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11:2, "It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful." That right there, is the lust that started it all, which then turned to selfish ambition, which then lead to the first sin. In verse 4 of the same chapter, "So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her..." And, that was not only a sin on David's side, but Bathsheba also, because she had a husband, and it doesn't even hint that she refused him. But, as David started all of this by lusting after her, it was his fault too.
Then, he realized that he had done wrong, so, what does he do? Does he repent? Nope. Not at all. He tries covering it up by trying to get Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba, to make it look like Uriah got her pregnant. But, in verse 11 it says, "Uriah said to David, 'The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.'" So when that doesn't work, does he come clean then after he tried deception, which is sin #2? Nope. Verses 14-15, "In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.'" So, he not only slept with Uriah's wife, but he then tried to cover it up, but that didn't work so he sent Uriah back to the battle field, carrying his own death sentence. All because of his own lusts, and selfish ambition. James 1:15, "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." This is very true.
This story is a perfect example of why we shouldn't lust over things, or others. It never ends up well. Hebrews 13:5, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" If you're content, you won't want anything else, or lust over it.
Girls, this story is also about how David lusted after a woman. When we dress immodestly, boys are going to lust over us. Please keep this in mind next time you get dressed.
