There’s been such a media frenzy these days over the Tiger Woods affair and break from golf. If you’re like me you’re wanting for this media onslaught to fade. But I think there’s a valuable lesson in the demise of Tiger Woods.

When you’re considered an all time great, an unstoppable force and a hero to millions you can of course let that go to your head. What often happens with successful people is that they let their success in one particular area (like sports or business) extend to the rest of their lives. So if you’re unbeatable at golf you might think you’re unbeatable in every area of life. And when you start believing this lie, the time is ticking on a spectacular fall.

King David in 1 and 2 Samuel exemplifies this well. David was known for his auspicious start as a giant slayer. The David vs. Goliath allusion must be the most over-used in all of sports. But from that point on, David was known as a national hero. He couldn’t walk through a street without applause and paparazzi snapping mental photographs. Gradually and almost invisibly David’s interior life began to erode. We find him in 2 Samuel 11 waking up on a lazy afternoon while all the other men were off to battle. He spots a beautiful woman bathing and commits adultery with her even though she is the wife of one of his generals who is risking his life for him. But David thinks, “I am the great king, the giant slayer.” And so his life spirals out of control and leads to murder, exile and humiliation.

Ironically David’s greatest moment wasn’t his slaying with Goliath. David’s greatest moment was when he  penned the words of Psalm 51. Toward the end of this prayer of confession he says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (vs. 17). David’s greatest moment wasn’t his victory but his defeat. It was only then he realized not just the extent of who he was but the greatness of the grace of God. It’s in our victories in our lives that we should be most cautious because it can give us a false view of ourselves. But it’s in our brokenness that we should most delight as it brings us nearer to an understanding of God’s great grace.

One of the great lies that we have to deal with is the lie that we’re in control. We’re always in need of self-examination and gospel humility. I think these two illustrations help us to see that well.