SOAP 08/04/2014; 2 Kings 22:7

Today's reading: 2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6

S) "⁷ Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully."

2 Kings 22:7 (NASB)

O) When Josiah had reigned 18 years, he was 26 years old, and he began the project to restore the temple of the LORD. He had collected money from the people, free-will offerings, just as King Joash had done (see 2 Kings 12). In this verse, though, we see King Josiah letting go of control over the money and spending. This is a crucial decision to remain humble as king. He doesn't micro-manage the funding. His concern is not being sure everything is done in the most cost-effective manner. It is noteworthy, however, that this is not a blind trust that he placed in his workmen. He said, "they deal faithfully." This sheds light on two more crucial elements. First, he didn't blindly trust the workers, but he trusted their established pattern of behavior. Second, that the king knew his workmen in the first place. He was conducting business with craftsmen that had good reputations already.

A) My money is not my own. Ultimately, all that is in my hands was put there by the LORD my God. Because of this, I cannot make it my business to worry about how that money is spent, when I place that money in someone else's hands (my church, for example). Doing so will only add stress to my life, create stumbling opportunities of pride, and distract me from my truer goals. At the same time, I should be aware of the reputations that people have, when I entrust them with money for a project (again, like my church). Above all else, my own concern should be humility, to realize that the money isn't mine anyway, and my bigger concern will be for me to glorify God.

P) Father, You are the Creator of all things, sovereign and generous in my life. Keep me humble enough to know, that everything in my hands came from You, and still belongs to You. My goal is to glorify You with these hands, with the things that are in them. Let my goal always be eternal, imperishable things, not temporal, perishable things. Open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.