Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 10-13
Meditation Verses: 12:6-9
Thought
From such heights to such lows, in one generation. David loved the Lord and desired to build a temple for Him, but God put him off. He honored David for his devotion, but handed the task of building the temple to his son Solomon. Solomon did what was required and built everything as David had been shown, but Solomon's devotion faded over the years, for he loved many foreign wives. Yet the temple was beautiful and filled with treasures. Then comes Rehoboam, and everything comes crashing down. They use the Lord then turn from Him, and God sends Shishak against them and hands them over to him. The temple is desecrated, the treasures are taken. No sooner had God blessed the temple, than He allowed it to be sacked. His temple, the sign of men's devotion to Him. The structure and all it contained was not more valuable to God than the dedication and obedience of His people. They humbled themselves, but they would pay the price of subjugation, to learn the difference between serving the Lord and serving men.
Application
There is only one way to trust in the Lord, and that is to do His will. Building structures and filling then with all kinds of treasures is not devotion to God. Obeying Him and living as He asks, that's what He values. The treasures of this world mean nothing to Him, except as they're used to promote faith and obedience among men. I cannot bribe Him with the nice things of this world, I can only humble myself and submit fully to Him in order to gain His favor. And His favor should be more precious to me than all the treasures of this world. Help me let go of the things of this world in order to serve You better, freely, completely.