If you’re anything like us, you probably check your analytics more than you check the weather. And hey, we get it. Numbers matter. But what happens when you start serving the metrics instead of using them to serve your mission?
Let’s unpack that by going way back to the Old Testament.
The Story of King David’s Census
Let’s start with the story of King David’s census in the Bible. At first glance, conducting a census doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? But God was deeply displeased with David’s decision, so much so that He gave David a choice between three punishments. David chose the shortest punishment – three days of plague – but it still resulted in the death of 70,000 people.
The key here is that the act of counting itself wasn’t the problem. What made it wrong was the heart behind it. While the Bible doesn’t explicitly state David’s motivation, we can infer two possibilities:
1. Pride: David wanted to boast about the size of his army.
2. Lack of trust: David was counting his warriors to determine if he was strong enough to win battles, instead of relying on God.
The Modern-Day Parallel
As business owners, we’re constantly tracking numbers – revenue, sales, followers, conversions. These metrics are essential, but we need to be careful not to put our identity or sense of control into these numbers. Metrics can become modern-day idols when they define our worth or drive our decisions apart from prayer and obedience.
Real-World Examples
Let’s look at some modern examples of metric obsession:
1. Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church: This megachurch empire collapsed in 2014 after becoming overly focused on growth and numbers, losing sight of their original mission.
2. Tommy Breedlove: A senior financial consultant who burnt out chasing success metrics to fill an identity void. He’s now a leadership coach helping others pursue significance over success.
3. Hosanna Wong: A Christian social media influencer who realized she was performing for validation instead of ministering for God. She took a break, recalibrated, and returned with a focus on serving from humility, not performance.
The Fine Line Between Wisdom and Worship
There’s a crucial difference between:
– Wise use of metrics vs. obsessive use of metrics
– Stewarding with insight vs. obsessing for control
– Tracking for growth and mission vs. needing numbers for self-worth
– Measuring to improve impact vs. measuring to validate identity
Heart Check Questions
To assess your relationship with metrics, ask yourself:
1. Am I using numbers to serve the kingdom or to build my kingdom?
2. Would I still do this if the numbers stayed small?
3. Have I prayed about this or just tracked it?
Practical Steps to Stay Grounded
1. Start business reviews or staff meetings with prayer
2. Track both metrics and “mission moments” (stories of impact)
3. Take regular digital sabbaths to reset your identity
4. Set obedience-based goals (e.g., number of people served, not just revenue)
5. Build a “heart team” – people who check your motives, not just your performance
Conclusion
Remember, David repented, and God restored. There’s grace for us too if we’ve placed these numbers in an unhealthy position in our lives and businesses. Every day is an opportunity to start fresh and surrender those metrics to God.
Faithful leadership counts the right things for the right reasons. When numbers go up or down, your identity stays rooted because you’re building with God, not apart from Him.
This week’s challenge: Take 30 minutes to reflect on what you might be idolizing in your business or personal life. How can you surrender that to God?
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