“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
Does you heart tend to serve pride or humility?
When our hearts are inclined towards pride or humility, it becomes evident when God brings to our attention something in our lives that is not pleasing to Him.
Let’s take a look at two kings in the Bible. First lets look at Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 12:1-5. “When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horseman. . . And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the princess of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.'”
Rehoboam’s heart was filled with sin and self. He led a nation away from God. God raised up an enemy to discipline Rehoboam for his rebellion. However, with this discipline God wanted Rehoboam to understand why this was happening so he sent a prophet to explain. Let’s read on, verses 6-7, “The the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.” When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
How did Rehoboam and the leaders of the nation respond when they were confronted about their sin?
How do you respond when confronted about their sin?
How did God respond to the people when they humbled themselves?
How did the people benefit from Rehoboam’s humility?
Now let’s look down the geneology line of Rehoboam and see what his grandson Asa did. Asa become king of Judah three years after Rehoboam died. He had a long and prosperous reign. There are many positive things about Asa and his leadership in the Bible. Let’s read 2 Chronicles 14: 2-7. Did you catch how he took some major steps of obedience? However, even with Asa’s godly leadership, trouble everntually came to his kingdom. Did Asa trust God in this trouble? Yes, he did and God honored his faith and affirmed His blessing on his leadership. Asa responded in humility and the spiritual resovle fo the nation was deepened. You can continue to read 2 Chronicles 15.
Then several years later, another enemy came, and Asa responded differently. He didn’t trust the Lord. He turn to Syrians for help. God sent a prophet to rebuke him for this. Read 2 Chronicles 16:7-9. Why was it wrong for Asa to look to the Syrians for help against his enemies? Even though he had erred greatly, Asa was given the opportunity to humble himself, acknowledge his wrongdoing and receive God’s mercy. How did Asa respond to the prophet of God? Now read 2 Chronicles 16:12-13. Asa got angry with the prophet of God. What evidence of pride do we see in these verses? HOw did this pride effect His responses and his leadership?
Which king began his reign with pride and rebellion?
Which king ended his reign with pride nad rebellion?
How do you want to begin and end in your life? With pride and rebellion or with humility?
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you that you love us enough to reign us back to you. however, thank you for the choice to choose. I pray that we will humble ourselves when the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our sin and that we will humble repent and return to you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
