A Monument to Me

2 Samuel 18:18 During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day. Absalom tried to steal the kingdom from his own father. It was an ugly ordeal, and it ended in a horrible way. Absalom was an extremely handsome man that was known for his hair. He would only cut it only one time a year, and that was because it would get too heavy. When his hair was cut, the clippings would weigh five pounds! It's ironic that his hair would end up leading to his death. While trying to flee for his life on a mule, his hair became tangled in a tree, and he hung there until Joab ended his life. Our verse today says that Absalom built a monument to himself during his lifetime. Absalom lived for Absalom, and when he died, all he had was a monument that he built for himself. When God says that "pride goes before destruction"(Proverbs 16:18), He isn't joking. We can choose to live this life for God and others, leaving a lasting legacy behind, or we can choose to do what pleases us, leaving behind burned bridges and meaningless monuments. Don't go the way of Absalom. Let's build something that will benefit others and will give Him glory.