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5 "For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite."
1 Kings 15:5 (NIV)
Here's a man who forged a terrific moral winning streak. He hadn't failed much at all … only one recorded fall in his entire lifetime. How altogether enviable! What kept David winning that much? What secrets brought him such success?
Scripture here gives some clues:
For David, what was right was not based on his feelings. Moral failure so often happens when men operate based on what feels good, doing what's right in their own eyes. Right for David was based on the moral commands of God. Almost without exception, God set the moral compass in his life.
Saying “no” to self. In order to be good at saying “yes” to God, David had to be good at saying “no” to himself, consistently surrendering his own definitions of morality in favor of God's. There was no room for other options. Personal feelings were dumped in favor of God's greater good.
The gaze of God defined this man's longing. David wanted to be seen, known and directed by God. He wanted God looking his way. God's gaze mattered.
The gaze on God defined this man's target. He preferred to gaze in that direction. He could hardly take his eyes off of the Lord. He loved trying to catch God's eye … and it kept him on the straight and narrow like few have ever done.
Athlete, living by principle more than passion, focused on God, makes all the difference in the world. This is where great morality rests.
