This is from something I shared with my men's group recently and thought I would share with you. It is a good follow up to my last blog "Counsel vs. Contention" and it comes from 2 Chronicles chapters 10 & 12. Do you ever wonder why good people do things that are out of line, wrong or dare I say just "evil"? Have you ever done something or in the process of going through something where you ask yourself, "What was I thinking?" or "What's wrong with me?" all along knowing that your heart may be a heart to do what is good and right?
In my recent readings in 2 Chronicles I read about the story of Jeroboam who was in living in exile from Solomon as Solomon wanted him dead from a prophecy that Solomon had heard. Solomon was very hard on the people with taxing them and forced labor. In chapter 10 after Solomon's death he heard that Reohoboam was made king so he came out of exile to plead with Rehoboam to lighten the burden that Solomon had put on the people. When Jeroboam presented this to Rehoboam he told him that the people serve him forever. Rehoboam wasn't sure what to say to this so he told Jeroboam to go away for three days so that he can figure out what to do.
Rehoboam first went to the elders for counsel on the matter. These elders actually served and saw things during King Solomon's reign so they were greatly experienced. They told Rehoboam that he should definitely lighten the load and treat the people nicely because this would lead to them serving him with gladness. Rehoboam wasn't pleased with this answer for some reason so he decided to get the counsel of the "younger men" that he grew up with. The younger men told him not only should he not loosen the load but he should definitely make even harder on them. For some reason Rehoboam liked hearing this so that is how he proceeded which caused a rebellion and a battle that almost destroyed his kingdom.
When reading this in the past I always thought that the reason things were falling apart was because of him seeking the counsel of the young guns over the older more experienced crowd. Which is true and by no means should lesson the importance of good counsel but somehow I was missing the "root" of the matter which is revealed in chapter 12. It wasn't necessarily because Rehoboam was evil or a bad guy because during the course of the battle he does repent to the Lord which ended the battles. Verse 14 of Chapter 12 tells us that Rehoboam did evil because he did not purpose in his heart to seek the Lord.
The thing that I have noticed is anytime that I end up messing up end up getting the wrong mindset about things it always ends up being rooted in one thing... my not purposing in my heart to seek the Lord. I have also noticed that is more than merely seeking Him, it is actually "purposing in my heart" to seek Him. I can pick up a Bible and read the Words whenever I want but what does my heart want out of it? Just to do something out of religion or ritual? Or is it out of an honest yearning to spend time with God and get all that He has for you out of a heart of reverence, love and respect for Him.
If we see someone who is doing things that they shouldn't be doing or whose thinking is off and even saying things that are out of line, will we be a loving enough brother or sister in the Lord to ask them how their relationship with the Lord really is? Is there a true purposing in their heart to seek the Lord or are they letting other things come first in their lives? It is hard with the distractions that take place in the world today but if we just take the first step with Him I believe we will be amazed at what happens... I know I have been!
