2 Kings 12

Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

(2Ki 12:2)

This verse, at first glance may sound really good. I know to me at first glance it is refreshing, even encouraging. FINALLY we read that a king did what was right! But wait… it doesn’t end there, he did what was right for a TIME. We read that Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord ALL THE DAYS THAT JEHOIADA INSTRUCTED HIM. Let that sink in… it goes from being sweet, to being sad!

Here was Jehoash, and we see that his FAITHFULNESS to the LORD was directly connected to a RELATIONSHIP with a MAN. I think that many of us can get ourselves in this situation and not even realize it. Jehoash wasn’t really relying upon the Lord… instead He was depending on Jehoiada. His “relationship” with God didn’t really exist… it was really just an extension of his relationship with Jehoiada, the spiritual leader in his life.

I had a group of friends towards the end of high school that all appeared to be walking with the Lord. We would gather weekly to study the Bible together, and then would go to the mall to share our faith. It was so cool, and we all seemed to be doing what the book of acts talks about, going from house to house… all with the purpose of encouraging one another in the Lord. Then I left for college, and SEVERAL of these guys just went right back to their old ways… doing things that were NOT glorifying to God. It was like they didn’t even care. At first I felt like it was my fault… I left and they fell away! The Lord showed me something though. Those guys were depending on our GROUP and not the Lord. They didn’t really have their own relationship with Jesus; it was just an extension of their relationship with those of us who WERE walking with Jesus. When we left, their relationship to Jesus ended because it was not really PERSONAL.

What about you? Is your relationship with the Lord personal? Or is just an extension? It could be an extension of your PARENTS relationship, or my relationship, or Hector’s, or Mike’s, or any other leader… It could be an extension of a relationship with a Godly friend, or an older brother or sister. I only have one thing to say… MAKE IT PERSONAL. If you don’t want to be like Jehoash, a person who walked with God only while a Godly leader held his hand; then get to know Jesus. The best thing I can do for any of you is introduce you to Jesus. I don’t want to walk and talk for you… you have to do it yourself. Don’t be a Jehoash… be a Godly young man or woman who really KNOWS their Lord… and not just by extension!