David's success in defeating the giant, Goliath, was followed by continued success. When he returned from a victorious battle with the Philistines, the women of Israel sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." No one in Israel's history had achieved such great success at such an early age. But this did not elevate David to an experience of problem-free living. Instead, it ushered into his life a set of problems he had not previously experienced. Expectations grew, the envy of others increased and complacency began to set in.
Pat Riley, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to great success in the 1980's, describes the problem of achievement this way: "When a milestone is conquered, the subtle erosion called entitlement begins its consuming grind. The team regards its greatness as a right. Half hearted effort becomes habit and saps a champion's strength."
David forgot what made him successful. Do you recall what he declared when he confronted Goliath? He said, "You come to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord." But notice what occurred later following the defeat of the Philistine. David fled from King Saul with great fear. He approached Ahimelech, the priest of Nob, with a request for weapons. Ahimelech told him the only sword he had was the sword of Goliath. And David said, "There is none like it, give it to me." Instead of relying on God as he had done previously, he was now willing to depend on the sword of the giant. Instead of downgrading the value of the sword of the slain Goliath, David now desired it.
George Bernard Shaw once said, "There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart's desire. The other is to get it." Problems accompany both failure and success. It was true of David, and it is also true of us. Let us never forget whose we are, and let us always remember it is by the grace of God that we have come this far. May our commitment never waiver as we move forward into the future.

Keep the faith,

Chuck