But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD. And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD, And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD: But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD. (2 Kings 12:9-14)
Joash had instructed the priests to collect for the repairing of the temple. When they did not accomplish this task Joash called them into account. The high priest then collected the monies where the priests could not get to them and they were distributed to the workmen who repaired the temple. No monies were spent on the utensils for the work of the temple until all had been repaired and the workmen were paid for their labor. Later, Joash would send what was left over to the king of Syria in an attempt to persuade him to not besiege Jerusalem, which only partially worked but led to the death of Joash.
Joash was determined to repair the broken walls and gates of the temple of God. Though he had not broken down all the high places in Judah, he had removed the worship of baal and led the people in returning to the worship of God. A restored temple was important to his efforts, not only because the temple is where the people met God through the High priest, but also because of its central importance to the people and land of Judah. When the priests embezzled the provided funds, the high priest and the king arranged for the money to be collected in such a way that the priests could not get to the monies. The laborers were paid as they should have been and the temple was rebuilt. Sending the left over monies to Syria instead of buying the necessary vessels for the work may have delayed the siege of Jerusalem, but Joash still lost credibility in the sight of the people and lost to Syria.
Bringing those who are lost and separated from God into His Kingdom through repentance and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary is the ultimate work of God and the purpose for any ministry which we do. Anything which we do that takes away from that purpose is not worthy of God and God will not bless it because it does not bring people to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When God stirs God’s people to a work or a ministry, He will provide for it through His people. We are to be faithful and responsible stewards to give from what we have received and to manage what comes in for God’s Kingdom. Those who work for us, even if they are not of the body of Christ, are to be paid a fair and equitable wage for the work they do. We are not to keep that which God gives us for ourselves but use it to do the work which God has brought us to. That which God does allow us to have for our needs, is to be used in a godly way and to glorify Him that our ministry and our life may reflect God, His principles, and His ways, that others may see and want to know the God we serve. Our giving unto the LORD and our support for the work of God should reflect our faith in Him and our trust in those He has called to lead and direct His ministries while holding all accountable for that which God has given them until He comes again for His own.
Until that day, while we are here on this earth as His ambassadors and ministers, God has commanded those of us who are His saints and know Him to go out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Joash was determined to repair the broken walls and gates of the temple of God. Though he had not broken down all the high places in Judah, he had removed the worship of baal and led the people in returning to the worship of God. A restored temple was important to his efforts, not only because the temple is where the people met God through the High priest, but also because of its central importance to the people and land of Judah. When the priests embezzled the provided funds, the high priest and the king arranged for the money to be collected in such a way that the priests could not get to the monies. The laborers were paid as they should have been and the temple was rebuilt. Sending the left over monies to Syria instead of buying the necessary vessels for the work may have delayed the siege of Jerusalem, but Joash still lost credibility in the sight of the people and lost to Syria.
Bringing those who are lost and separated from God into His Kingdom through repentance and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary is the ultimate work of God and the purpose for any ministry which we do. Anything which we do that takes away from that purpose is not worthy of God and God will not bless it because it does not bring people to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When God stirs God’s people to a work or a ministry, He will provide for it through His people. We are to be faithful and responsible stewards to give from what we have received and to manage what comes in for God’s Kingdom. Those who work for us, even if they are not of the body of Christ, are to be paid a fair and equitable wage for the work they do. We are not to keep that which God gives us for ourselves but use it to do the work which God has brought us to. That which God does allow us to have for our needs, is to be used in a godly way and to glorify Him that our ministry and our life may reflect God, His principles, and His ways, that others may see and want to know the God we serve. Our giving unto the LORD and our support for the work of God should reflect our faith in Him and our trust in those He has called to lead and direct His ministries while holding all accountable for that which God has given them until He comes again for His own.
Until that day, while we are here on this earth as His ambassadors and ministers, God has commanded those of us who are His saints and know Him to go out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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