Many people in this world don’t know when to stop. It’s a personal epidemic that ruins lives and ends lives. Think about it, because it can get a little personal to each one of us. People don’t know when to stop eating and arguing. People don’t know when to stop complaining. People don’t know when to stop drinking and spending. People don’t know when to stop hoarding and storing. People don’t know when to stop lying and talking. People don’t know when to stop looking at things and doing things they know they shouldn’t be doing. There are people who don’t know when to stop nagging and bragging. Many people don’t know when to stop working and start resting and enjoying their lives. Many don’t know when to stop blaming others and running from their problems. I said in the beginning, many people don’t know when to stop, and this is just the short list.
Asahel, the nephew of King David and brother of Joab, the commander of David’s army, was one such individual. He didn’t know when to stop even after being warned two times.
2 Samuel 2:22-23 So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?” 23 However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was [that] as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.
If Asahel had only stopped at the second warning, he could have lived on to see another day, but he was consumed with something that would kill him. Abner was the commander of the opposing forces and Asahel was within reach and closing in on his target. The warnings didn’t work, but the blunt end of Abner’s spear did, and he was violently stopped.
When we get blinded by our desires and consumed with what we think we want, oftentimes we are powerless to stop ourselves. That’s why we need God in our lives and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us put on the brakes. It’s called discipline and self-control and spiritual maturity and wisdom. There is no sin in wanting things in our lives, and we are needy people, but when we ignore the stop signs and our desires are greater than our ability to stop, the consequences are most oftentimes more than we bargain for.
When we ignore the stop signs, the consequences are most often more than we bargain for.
Let me ask you, what are you in hot pursuit of? What has your attention that is consuming you? Can you stop today? Jesus gives us power to stop! Call on His name and live a disciplined life that does not lead to ruin.
