One man we met could hardly get past hello before we knew that he had had a highly successful career in an area we won't name. He listed instance after instance of winning moments. And each of those "wins" involved making a huge sum of money. It wasn't long before that defining mechanism showed in everything he did—where he went for entertainment, the items he purchased and the brand names he insisted on. He was too good for anything "economical," whether a trip he took or a car he bought. Before long, he had nothing much to do with us. It was obvious we were poor peons compared to him.
As Christians I hope that we define ourselves by something much more important than how much money we make, where we live, the cars we drive, and the vacations we take. I am reminded of Hezekiah, truly one of the most righteous kings Judah ever had, but what happened when the Babylonians came to visit? At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not (Isa 39:1-2).
These pagan people understood that Hezekiah had just been seriously ill, so ill he should have died but for his God's intervention. Yet God is never mentioned when Hezekiah shows off his wealth to these Babylonians. Why wasn't he talking about his God, the one who answered His prayer, showing the house where Judah worshipped that God instead of showing his own, and proclaiming that God to these pagans? For some reason, this otherwise godly man did not at that moment choose to define himself as one of God's people to a nation that needed that testimony. And what did Isaiah tell him because of this? Hear the word of Jehovah of hosts: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, says Jehovah (Isa 39:5-6).
How do we define ourselves, especially to people of the world? We should be talking about eternal things, not the physical. Hezekiah was reminded that not only would he leave behind those physical things at his death, but none of them would survive the coming destruction either. They do not matter! All that matters is our relationship with God, the one who watches over us, sustains us, and ultimately, forgives us so we will have a place that does last. Do we really need an Isaiah to remind us that it will all be gone in a moment, maybe even before we are if the economy crashes?
Think for a moment this morning, about how your neighbors would define you based upon the things you have told them. Maybe we need to change our place in the dictionary.
Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways (Ps 119:36-37).
Dene Ward