Lessons on Jehoahaz (3)—Losing Our Wealth to This World - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Pharaoh Necho put [Jehoahaz] in prison and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give money according to the command of Pharaoh; he exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land, from every one according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Necho.
2 Kings 23:33-35 NKJV

Lessons on Jehoahaz (3)—Losing Our Wealth to This World
These events are a direct consequence of Josiah's meddling in the affairs of this world when he wanted to oppose the king of Egypt. Because he did so, God's people became involved in the things of the world. After Pharaoh had determined who was to rule, he imposed a fine of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold on the country. Not only had the people lost their autonomy to govern themselves, but what little wealth they had left was taken away from them! The people were already so poor that Jehoiakim had to impose a proportional tax on the country in order to be able to give the money that Pharaoh had demanded. What misery!

Taking part in the world makes us lose our spiritual wealth. However spiritually poor the people of God may be, there will be nothing left! If by going to this world we think to obtain financial advantages, comfort, protection, or whatever else, it will be for our spiritual loss. The prince of this world will impose his heavy tax on the country to take away from the people of God whatever is left of their true riches. What a terrible exchange it is to trade in the things from above for those of the earth! We always lose spiritually when we occupy ourselves with the present age instead of the person of the Lord Jesus.

May we do the opposite, and not only actively put what we have at the service of the Lord but, like the Macedonians, give ourselves first to the Lord (2 Cor. 8:5)!

-- Alexandre Leclerc