“When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the LORD had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven.” (1 Chronicles 27:23, NLT)

Growing older gives one a sense of perspective concerning the value of things. When I was a child, I thought as a child. I watched a TV commercial for a certain toy and begged my parents to get it for me for Christmas. As I grew older, my tastes changed and the things I valued changed. I started wanting clothes and electronic devices. Now at age 62, I find that the most valuable things to me revolve around faith, family, and the extended family of God.

When David was younger, the size of his army was important to him. God had blessed him abundantly and given him victory on every side. He wanted to measure how much God had blessed him. This was comparable to a rich person seeking to know his own net worth. He ordered Joab to take a census of all Israel. But the plan was ill-conceived, for God had promised Abraham to make his descendants as innumerable as the stars. God did specify a way to take a census involving each man giving a half-shekel, but David ignored this commandment. His desire to know the size of his army brought judgment upon the nation, and 70,000 died. The glory that seemed so important at the time was vainglory.

Now David was older and his perspective had changed. Knowing the size of his army was not nearly as important as pleasing the LORD. Sharing the administration of the nation with trusted friends and gifted leaders was also important to David. It wasn’t about his status or reputation but about glorifying God through empowering others to do the work of the kingdom.

Perhaps as we grow older we possess more of the eternal perspective because we are closer to eternity. We see things from God’s perspective. We value the things that He values. It become less about us and more about Christ and others. We gladly give away what God has given to us because we understand that it is more blessed to give than to receive. That sounds like the Christmas spirit, and I suppose it is. But more importantly, it is the heart of the Father, the giver of life, love, and every good and perfect gift.