2 Kings 12:13-21 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Kings 12:13-21. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Kings 12:13-16 (NIV)
13 The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the LORD;
14 it was paid to the workmen, who used it to repair the temple.
15 They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.
16 The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.
On verses 13-16: For years the temple remained in disrepair because the money being brought into the temple was being used on making accessories as opposed to being used for repairs. So Joash and the priests change their system of handling money: they forego certain accessories so that they can allocate more money toward repairing the temple (v13-14). At the same time, they make sure that the priests are still provided for (v16). Notice also what it says about those were entrusted with the money to repair the temple: “They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.” (v15)
What can we learn from this?
1. In any organization, whether it’s the church, a business or a home, sometimes we need to forego spending on accessories so that we can pay for certain necessities. Healthy organizations exercise financial self-discipline. Are you self-disciplined financially? If you find that you’re spending a lot on accessories such that you don’t have enough for basic necessities, then it’s time to rethink your spending and your budget.
2. Be honest and trustworthy with money. God uses people who are trustworthy, responsible stewards of what they have been given to build His kingdom.
2 Kings 12:17-21 (NIV)
17 About this time Hazael king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem.
18 But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers–Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah–and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.
19 As for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
20 His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla.
21 The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.
On verses 17-21: The Arameans led by King Hazael prepare to attack Judah. To appease the Arameans, King Joash gives them sacred objects, money and gold from the temple. However, this move would only work temporarily. According to 2 Chronicles 24, the Arameans would come back and attack Judah again, this time wounding Joash severely. Joash’s own officials take advantage of Joash’s weakened state and murder him.
Why would all this happen to Joash? 2 Chronicles 24 gives some important background, which is that after King Joash’s mentor Jehoiada dies, Joash turns away from the Lord, abandons the temple that he had spent much of his life caring for, and becomes an idol worshiper. Various prophets warn Joash about the direction his life is taking. Even Jehoiada’s own son Zechariah warns Joash, but Joash refuses to listen and murders Jehoiada’s son for speaking against him. Eventually, after Joash is wounded in his fight against the Arameans, Joash’s own officials murder him and his son Amaziah succeeds him as king. Joash had a great start but an awful finish, and it’s because over time he trusted in the Lord less and less until his relationship with the Lord was an empty shell of what it used to be.
What can we learn from this? How you finish is more important than how you start. If you want to finish well, it’s about having a closer relationship with the Lord at the end than you did at the beginning. So no matter how old or experienced you get, through every season, keep hanging onto the Lord with passion and desperation.
Father, please give me wisdom to manage money wisely, that I wouldn’t spend on accessories at the expense of necessities. May I be a responsible, trustworthy steward of the money You have entrusted to me. Thank You also for showing me that how I finish is more important than how I start. Through every season, may I hang onto You and finish well. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
