- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,081
Secrets of Success - March 10, 2007
2 Chronicles 26: 1-23 "As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success." 2Chronicles 26:5b
It's too easy to take the credit for things we do right and blame others for things that go wrong. In this chapter we meet Uzziah, a sixteen year old who became king. Perhaps he was concerned about his youthfulness, or perhaps he knew that he didn't know enough to do a good job. Whatever the reason, Uzziah started out his reign by seeking instruction from Zechariah, a prophet, who taught him to fear God. And we see in our verse today that as long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God gave him success.
I'm no different than Uzziah. Many times I start out by realizing my inadequacies. This drives me to seek the Lord's help and counsel from others. Then like Uzziah in verse 16, I become prideful over my success. Pride is the kiss of death on any achievement. Sooner or later, I become a victim of my arrogance and self-sufficiency.
In verse 19 we see Uzziah in a nose-to-nose confrontation with the priests of the temple. Only the priests were to burn incense at the altar. Uzziah stubbornly continued in his own way. I'm sure he justified his actions. Maybe he thought God would overlook his own rules. Maybe he thought God was wishy washy about what he said was right and wrong. But God struck him with leprosy as he raged in the Lord's temple. The priests saw the leprosy and hurried him out. "Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him." Verse 20b.
Uzziah acted as I often do. He obeyed after the consequences. When he realized God was serious about his commands and that he had brought a serious consequence upon himself for his actions, Uzziah became eager to obey. Suddenly he saw his mistakes. Perhaps he thought that God would take away the punishment if he changed his actions. But it was too late. The Bible does not say whether or not Uzziah repented of his deeds. It does say that he lived away from the temple of the Lord until he died.
Lord, help me to believe what you say. When others give me needed advice, give me a willing ear to listen and change. Protect me from the sin of pride. Instead, help me always to seek You and to prosper because of it. Amen.
Contributed by Candace Simar
2 Chronicles 26: 1-23 "As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success." 2Chronicles 26:5b
It's too easy to take the credit for things we do right and blame others for things that go wrong. In this chapter we meet Uzziah, a sixteen year old who became king. Perhaps he was concerned about his youthfulness, or perhaps he knew that he didn't know enough to do a good job. Whatever the reason, Uzziah started out his reign by seeking instruction from Zechariah, a prophet, who taught him to fear God. And we see in our verse today that as long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God gave him success.
I'm no different than Uzziah. Many times I start out by realizing my inadequacies. This drives me to seek the Lord's help and counsel from others. Then like Uzziah in verse 16, I become prideful over my success. Pride is the kiss of death on any achievement. Sooner or later, I become a victim of my arrogance and self-sufficiency.
In verse 19 we see Uzziah in a nose-to-nose confrontation with the priests of the temple. Only the priests were to burn incense at the altar. Uzziah stubbornly continued in his own way. I'm sure he justified his actions. Maybe he thought God would overlook his own rules. Maybe he thought God was wishy washy about what he said was right and wrong. But God struck him with leprosy as he raged in the Lord's temple. The priests saw the leprosy and hurried him out. "Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him." Verse 20b.
Uzziah acted as I often do. He obeyed after the consequences. When he realized God was serious about his commands and that he had brought a serious consequence upon himself for his actions, Uzziah became eager to obey. Suddenly he saw his mistakes. Perhaps he thought that God would take away the punishment if he changed his actions. But it was too late. The Bible does not say whether or not Uzziah repented of his deeds. It does say that he lived away from the temple of the Lord until he died.
Lord, help me to believe what you say. When others give me needed advice, give me a willing ear to listen and change. Protect me from the sin of pride. Instead, help me always to seek You and to prosper because of it. Amen.
Contributed by Candace Simar
