The Danger of Success

2 Chronicles 25:14
When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!

I came across this nugget today in my bible reading. Normally, during my annual trek through the bible, Chronicles is like having a tooth pulled. Ever. Day. But this year, I've found more and more truths as I read the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah. In this particular passage, Amaziah goes to war with Edom. He originally is going to use mercenaries he's hired from Israel but the Lord tells him to trust Him and go to war without the hired guns. He does this and has a great victory in Edom, killing 10,000 on the field of battle and another 10,000 by execution. As a side note, he has these second 10,000 cast off the side of a cliff which is both brutal and wins points for originality. 

The problem is after his great, God given victory, Amaziah brings back the gods of Edom and begins to worship them. He even cops an attitude with the prophet who comes to warm him that God isn't pleased with this particular turn of events. Needless to say, he's on the road to downfall from here.

The issue that struck me was that Amaziah followed God and walked in His way right up until the moment he had success. Success is intoxicating. It makes you feel good. The key to remember is that our success, ANY success, is from God. Whether it's within the church, the marketplace or any other venue, God is the one who blesses us. 

Success is awesome. God is more awesome. Don't let success go to your head. 

Why Bother

I was up late last night waiting for my eldest to return from taking her friend to work. Even though she's 21 I still feel like I have to wait up for her. Old habits die hard. But that's a post for another day.

While I was waiting up I was tinkering around my office and listening to music on Spotify. PS- great service- highly recommend. I found myself listening to a number of selections from Carleton Pearson's Azusa concerts from back in the 1990s. The music was awesome. Traditional black gospel played with emotion that bled through my computer and into my ears. It was like church in my office.

I noted on Facebook that "Carleton Pearson may be a flake but he could sure put out some good music". That was the catalyst for a thought rolling around in my brain. Carleton Pearson embraces the theology of "universal acceptance". In short, he's a universalist. He thinks that there is no literal hell because hell is lived out on earth and in the afterlife we are all reunited with God.

As I mused on this I thought, if there was no literal hell, why bother with God. Or church. Or any type of relationship that would draw one into fellowship with the Almighty. I don't think our walk with God should be motivated by fear of hell but fear often compels us to action, whether it be our initial steps or to shake us from our moribund state. If I don't have a healthy fear of hell- of separation from God, why bother with any of this.

The scriptures speak clearly and unambiguously that there is indeed a hell that is reserved for those without Christ. For this reason, we are compelled to not only work out our own salvation with fear and trembling but to go into the harvest field to reach others. We go because it is the will of Christ that no man is lost.

This is why we bother.