Often the challenge of remaining faithful is when times get tough, but what about when there’s an experience of great success?
A few of us have been studying the book of Kings.
It’s a fascinating book. Full of episodes that marvel and astonish with character profiles of individuals that challenge us about character.
Recently we considered the character, Jehu.
He’s definitely not someone for the children to be reading about because his exploits are based largely on clinical and graphically brutal measures. He is, however, anointed to be king of Israel at a time where the corrupt times call for clinical measures. The state of the northern kingdom sees them dominated by Baal worship. The legacy of Ahab has left a situation where the people have been deeply entrenched by everything to do with Baal. Jezebel is still in a position of influence and the kings who followed Ahab, maintained the idolatry. Something had to be done and it had to totally and thoroughly deal with Baal worship once and for all.
In that sense, Jehu was the man. He got rid of the king, he got rid of the family, he got rid of Jezebel and in one fell swoop he wiped out Baal worship in the northern kingdom. He did a thorough job and he did it well. You know he did it well, because even God commended him on what he did.
The real test of success is where your focus is when you’ve enjoyed the initial victories. The tragedy of Jehu is that even as he noted that what he was doing was zeal for the Lord, after he enjoyed those victories, he didn’t pay attention to the Lord anymore. He failed to support the efforts with true faithfulness to God.
Jehu was duly honoured by God for his initial victories and getting rid of Baal worship. Yet his inability to remain faithful continued a downward trend for that northern kingdom.
In this, we are reminded about the capacity of people to end poorly having started so well. In this, we are informed again about how important it is to develop godly character throughout our time on earth. Not just as things are going well and we’re zealous, but after that high of success fades and we deal with what happens in the rest of life. Any success or victory we accomplished was through the help of God. It is with that help that we negotiate and navigate all of life.
We need to do what it takes to be clinical with what detracts from developing that godly character. God’s grace is ever with us to support us to do that, as we endeavour to remain faithful and focused on Him.
That in itself may be the best definition of success there can be.
(Photo by Ben White on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 