Read 2 Chronicles 14:2-15

Putting First Things First

Following the death of Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was divided. The northern kingdom of Israel was ruled by evil kings until the people were carried away into Assyrian captivity. The southern kingdom of Judah, however, had a handful of good kings ascend to the throne. Asa was the first king in Judah who “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 14:2).

What exactly did this king do that was “good and right”? He put first things first! Asa “removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images” (2 Chronicles 14:3). The success or failure of the nation was not dependent upon their economic policies or their military prowess. Success was determined by their relationship with the Almighty!

The first two commands that God handed down to Israel through Moses were simple and straightforward: “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Exodus 20:3-4). Yet, the people continually sought to worship and serve false gods that were created in their own minds rather than the Creator Himself. By tearing down the altars, high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images, king Asa was putting things back in the proper order. God would have preeminence in Asa’s kingdom.

“He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment” (2 Chronicles 14:4). How much better off would we be, not only in our churches but in our individual lives as well, if we truly did this? If we sought God and His will in all that we do?

Doesn’t Jesus promise that God will take care of our needs if we simply seek to do what He commands? He told His disciples that they should not worry about the necessities of life. He did not mean that His followers should not work for a living, but that they should not obsess over such things. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Do you have any idols you need to tear down? Anything that you put before God becomes an idol. Tear it down, and seek God’s will!