MONEY PART 2: Jehoida's Achilles' heel

Today's chapters deal with the ugly, gory, ending to Ahab's family. 70 sons (?!), his relatives aligned with Judah's royalty, everyone aligned with them in any fashion--all massacred. It makes me uncomfortable, but I admire Jehu for removing Baal worship from Israel.

The passage with the hopeful story of the priest Jehoida's courage and saving the young Joash and Joash's return to worship of Israel's true God. I have often thought that Joash was only "good," however, until Jehoida died.

Today I noticed something I hadn't seen before. The priest I so admired, Jehoida, had feet of clay after all. (well, we all do. And the Bible never holds back in showing people's faults.)

Joash decided to repair the temple. He handed responsibility for handling the finances, from the offerings at the temple, over to the priests.

23 years into his reign, the temple was still in ruins. And he took control of the money back from the priests.

The priests--Jehoida is specifically  mentioned. A statement that no more money would be spent on unnecessary things like silver candle snuffers suggests how the money had been spent instead.

Oh, Jehoida. You hit such a home run for God by protecting David's line and destroying Ahab's and restoring temple worship. And then, you failed over how best to spend the money. He didn't have to intend to rob the treasury. He probably bought things of quality, things that would honor God in their use.

At worst, his crime was lining his own pockets. At best, he didn't see the big picture in terms of temple repair.

Perhaps the priests as a group should have sought a man who was a good accountant at heart.

Joash was a good leader; he recognized the problem and corrected it.

The most obvious application? Find the right person for the right job. Admit your weaknesses and seek help.

MONEY MANAGEMENT (2 Kings 4)

I would rather not touch today's topic. Not because it's too difficult; but because it's an area I have struggled with.

DEBT

Tucked into the middle of all kinds of miracles that proved Elisha had a double portion of Elijah's spirit we find the story of the widow of one of the guild of the prophets.

Debt Indenture

Ah, but this prophet had a bad habit. He died broke, in debt, unprepared. The debt was so great that the debtor was going to claim her two sons as slaves.

This might not have been so bad for the boys, providing the slave owner followed the law. They would be released after six years. They couldn't be mistreated. They would have worked, but they would have been provided for.

But the poor woman--and her sons--faced with losing both husband father, mother and home, all in a matter of days.  My heart goes out to her. A tragedy beyond comprehension.

All because the father didn't manage his financial affairs properly.  Ouch. Neither have I.

Looking at the father's debt, Elisha's final words to the widow take on new meaning:

Sell the oil. Make good on your debts. Live, both you and your sons, on what is left. (2 Kings 4:7, MSG)

Collect your resources. Pay your debts first. Then come up with a plan on how to live on the remainder of the money. Unstated is the implication: don't get into debt again.

I can't change the past. But I can try to learn to live on what is left.

I have several measure struggle areas. Money is one of them. We all have have areas like that.

And I suspect that money management is a problem area for a lot more people than me.

Provide for my family after my death--first of all--financially. 

The same principle applies in other areas as well. Think on it. What can you do to better prepare your family for your death or illness?

Let's do it before it's too late.