|
A Convenient Religion
Jeroboam, first king of Israel (after its division from the kingdom of
Judah), was a leader who appealed to his people’s desire for
convenience. Afraid that the hearts of his subjects, upon traveling to
Jerusalem to worship, would become disloyal, he set up idols in the
northern and southern regions of his kingdom. He then told his people,
“It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O
Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt.” Jeroboam hoped
that his people would jump at the opportunity to travel a shorter
distance to worship. He was 'banking'his kingdom on it. Sadly, just as
he had hoped, his plan appealed to the nation (1 Kings 12:25ff;
14:16).
If you had been a citizen of Israel in Jeroboam’s day, what would you
have done? Would you have succumbed to the temptation of ‘convenient
religion,’ or would you have shown conviction of character by traveling
the long journey to Jerusalem to worship the only true and living God?
More importantly, however -- what are you doing today?
What is your attitude toward serving Christ? Are you willing to work for
and worship the Lord only when it is convenient? Or are you convicted
enough to serve God even when it proves difficult?
It’s Wednesday, and it’s been a hard day at work. And now you’ve got to
rush home, eat supper, and get the kids ready for midweek Bible study.
But you’re tired, and your head aches a little. It would be easier to
say, “I think it’d be best for us to stay home tonight.” What will you
do?
Your school friends are wearing clothes (some of which are immodest)
that make yours look dull and boring. You’re tired of looking like an
‘oddball,‘ and you’d like to fit in with everyone. Your parents just
might let you if you whine enough. What will you do?
You’ve “purposed in your heart” how much you’ll contribute to the work
of the local church, but now a few unexpected bills have come up.
Decisions must be made. Eating at home more often and going golfing a
few less times would help, but it’d be easier to say, “You know, we
really don’t need to contribute so much each week.” What will you do?
Your brother is caught up in sin, and you know you need to talk to him.
But you are afraid he will become angry with you if you try to restore
him, even if you do so in a “spirit of gentleness.” It would be easier
to say, “He’s the one who sinned, not me. He knows what he needs to do
without me telling him. Let him dig himself out of the hole he’s dug
himself into.” What will you do?
What was that again? Did you say you would have been among those who made that
inconvenient journey to Jerusalem in Jeroboam’s day?
If our service to Christ is not activated by conviction of heart but
only when things are convenient, can it truly be called “service”?
“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot
be My disciple” (Luke 14:33).
--Mike Noble
|
