How To Prevent Prosperity
King Joash started off young and well, because he had the priest Jehoiada to help him. He was the counselor of the King, and he led him to obey the Lord. Joash went on to repair the temple and to do God's will for years. Then, Jehoiada died, and Joash enlisted the wrong counsellors. Then, he departed from the Lord. The son of Jehoiada came to him after that to declare what the Spirit had shown him. His message was very clear. Since Joash departed from the Lord, his unfaithfulness would prevent him from prospering. (II Chronicles 24:20) Since he had forsaken the Lord, the Lord has forsaken him. What may we be doing that is preventing our prosperity?
It is a dangerous thing to know God's will and to depart from it. It is even worse to have been faithful to do God's will, and then to depart from doing those things. God is a jealous God. He wants us to belong totally to Him and to give Him all of our love and devotion. When we turn away and go after other things, He wants to draw us back. In that case He can't bless us, or we will just keep going away from Him. Therefore, He prevents us from prospering. He withdraws from us and forsakes us, as we have forsaken Him. Then, we can see how we have hurt Him and return in repentance. Therefore, by preventing our prosperity, God is really showing us His love. Let's not shun the love of our great God. Let's be faithful to Him to the end, no matter what.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 25-27.
It is a dangerous thing to know God's will and to depart from it. It is even worse to have been faithful to do God's will, and then to depart from doing those things. God is a jealous God. He wants us to belong totally to Him and to give Him all of our love and devotion. When we turn away and go after other things, He wants to draw us back. In that case He can't bless us, or we will just keep going away from Him. Therefore, He prevents us from prospering. He withdraws from us and forsakes us, as we have forsaken Him. Then, we can see how we have hurt Him and return in repentance. Therefore, by preventing our prosperity, God is really showing us His love. Let's not shun the love of our great God. Let's be faithful to Him to the end, no matter what.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 25-27.