READ: 2 Samuel 18:31-33; 2 Samuel 19:1-8

«And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.» - 2 Samuel 19:2

A pyrrhic victory is a term for «a victory won at too high a cost». It is a victory that comes with such devastating cost that ultimately nullifies the victory that has been achieved.

Do not insist on doing things that have too high a cost. Perhaps you are buying land to build a house or a church. You may succeed in getting a loan from the bank through a twenty-five year mortgage. Yes, you will have your million-dollar project. But at what cost? You may be tied down as a church, unable to do anything important. Your hand may be forced to steal because of this loan.

You may become a money preacher because you always need to raise funds to pay up your debts. You may lose your health and your peace of mind over this million-dollar project. Can't you see that you may be utterly ruined by this pyrrhic project ?

Napoleon's destruction began with a pyrrhic victory that he won in Russia, in a town called Borodino near Moscow. Technically speaking, Napoleon defeated the Russians and entered Moscow. But by the time he got back to France, his army was virtually destroyed, leaving him severely weakened and unable to maintain his power base. Yes indeed Napoleon won the battle of Borodino and entered Moscow. But at what cost?  Out of 286,000 soldiers who marched confidently into Russia, only 23,000 remained alive and crossed back into France. During his exile many years later, Napoleon wrote that of the 50 battles of his life, Borodino was where «the greatest valour was displayed and the least success gained».