DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 4 April 2023
TOPIC: Faithfulness Required
Text: 2 Kings 12:1-7 (KJV)
KEY VERSE:
“But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.”
(2 Kings 12:6)
DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 4 April 2023 MESSAGE
A young preacher once approached Dr. F. B. Meyer and asked how he could one day become as influential and well-known as Dr. Meyer. Dr. Meyer responded, “Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention”.
King Jehoash (or Joash, the Greek version) was passionate about the repair of the breaches in the temple right from the beginning of his reign because he found solace there during the reign of wicked Athaliah, who vandalised the temple. He allowed the priests to collect all the monies that came into the temple. But instead of repairing the Lord’s house, the priests converted the income to their personal use for years.
King Jehoash then stopped the priests from collecting the offerings of the people. An offering box was made by Jehoiada the high priest, from where money was taken to buy timber and other materials for the execution of the work.
What we read in our text with regards to the priests was not just a careless incident but an indictment on the priesthood. How is it that the ministers of God, who kept the charge at the temple and were the custodians of the ordinances of God, could not be faithful in little things? How were they to now preach against unfaithfulness and corruption in government if they themselves could not be trusted?
As believers, we are to come to equity with clean hands. And like Charles Spurgeon said in one of his messages, “he that cannot be safely imitated, ought not to be tolerated on the pulpit”. Believers, especially God’s ministers are expected to speak to the consciences of society. As God’s representatives, they are spokespersons against the corruption and wickedness in the land. As such, they must be impeccable in character and faithful in stewardship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Faith without faithfulness is a failure.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 10-12
