We read in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.” (GNB)
As we continue our study based on this verse we realized that God is indeed able to meet all of our needs, and lead us into overflowing abundance in every area of our life. If we do not use these blessings of God as we should, we will not be able to sustain it. Progress in life is vital, but it is up to us sustain it because if we are not careful we can lose it. Many who received God’s abundant blessings have lost much because of a little carelessness in their walk with the Lord. We need grace to maintain the blessings that God has showered on us.
We read about a king named Uzziah in the bible. His other name was ‘Azariah’ which means ‘God helps’. The name ‘Uzziah’ means ‘God is my strength.’ Help is one thing, but strength is another. We ask for help when we can’t do something. However, when God is our strength as the name Uzziah signifies means that we can do nothing without God. In many people’s lives God is ‘Azariah’ their help only when they are in need, and at other times they feel they can handle everything on their own. I wonder how many of us think of God as our ‘Uzziah’ the one who strengthens us, the one who leads us and without whom we can do nothing. Only when we come to that point will we truly receive the blessings of God.
Uzziah a young king
We read about Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:1, All the people of Judah chose Amaziah's sixteen-year-old son Uzziah to succeed his father as king. (GNB)
At sixteen years of age Uzziah is chosen as successor to the throne of his father Amaziah by the people of Judah.
We read in 2 Chronicles 26:8, “The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and he became so powerful that his fame spread even to Egypt.” (GNB)
Though Uzziah was very young, he became so powerful that his fame spread far and wide
The one who makes God his strength, who acknowledges that God is everything to them, such a man will most certainly increase in strength. We can sing that God is our strength, but it is important that we make this a reality in our lives. This means that we do nothing without seeking God and His counsel. Before we go to church we must pray, and ask God to speak to us through His word, because His word is our strength. Anyone who comes to church with such a prayer will hear God speak to them. God’s word and His presence strengthens us.
Let me pose a few questions that we can ponder on.
• What or who is your strength?
To some people they know some highly influential people, and they find their strength in the fact that they are well connected. There are others who have a high post in the government and their identity card can get them places. It is so important that as we get promoted to higher positions that we should choose to stay humble, because the Lord exalts those who humble themselves. It is human tendency that when we reach a certain position in life that we tend to think that we can do things on our own. Some people have a political party behind them from which they draw strength from. There are even those in ministry who get their strength from the reputed organizations they serve. Our strength should come from nothing or no one except the Lord Himself. The Lord alone should be our strength not the money we possess, the positions we have or the friends we know.
The Psalmist David says in Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom will I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom will I be afraid?” (ISV)
David was a mighty warrior, the one who slew the Goliath the giant, one in authority and an extremely talented man. It was this David who said, ‘The Lord is the strength of my life.’ David did not depend on his talents, his skills or his training, but His trust was in the Lord from whom He drew His strength. David underwent much hardship. He experienced disloyalty like no one else had, but the end of David’s life was glorious, only because he placed God above all else and made God his strength.
There are some who find their strength from their Dad or Mom. Just remember that the one who gave you your Father and Mother is the Lord above. Don’t every put your trust or find your strength in anyone or anything in this world. Our strength should not depend on our profession, our finances, our relationships, but must be on God alone. If God is our strength we can go through any trial or hardship and come out of it triumphant because the Lord will be with us.
Uzziah pleased God
We read in 2 Chronicles 26:4, “Following the example of his father, he did what was pleasing to the LORD.” (GNB)
There are lots of things that we do in a day, but do we stop to ponder if what we are doing is pleasing to God? It could be a friendship or some place that we go to, a phone call or a game we play. It is really important that before we engage in something, we make sure that what we are doing is pleasing to God. The world prods us to do whatever we like, and to fulfill everything that our heart desires. For instance, homosexuality has become an approved practice for many in the world. That is why it is so important to find out what is pleasing to God, and to know what God approves of and disapproves.
Think about Uzziah, as a young man he constantly sought to please the Lord and that became his strength.
Uzziah had a good counselor
We also read in 2 Chronicles 26:5, Uzziah kept on seeking God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to fear God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosperous. (ISV)
In the days of Uzziah, there was a man named Zechariah who was a good counselor to Uzziah. There were two reasons why Uzziah prospered during his reign. Firstly, He pleased God in all that he did and secondly, he had a good counselor in Zechariah who guided him in the ways of the Lord.
One thing that is lacking these days is that there are no good counselors who will give godly counsel. Everyone needs this a good sense to discern what to do and what not to do, but also the humility to accept good counsel. Often a lot of good in our lives is lost just because of one bad counselor or one unhealthy friendship.
I will give you an example of someone who heard good counsel, and of one who did not heed such counsel.
Namaan heeded good counsel
Namaan was a Syrian army officer who was suffering from leprosy. When he went to the Prophet Elisha seeking for his healing, he expected that the prophet would come out, wave his hands over him so that he could be healed. This was not so. Elisha sent his servant out, and asked Namaan to dip himself seven times in the River Jordan. Namaan got annoyed, and wondered why he had to do this in the River Jordan when there were much better rivers in his own country. At that time, one of the servants of Namaan intervened and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13) The servant gave counsel to Namaan that what the prophet asked him to do was a simple task and not a complicated one, which Namaan would have probably done if the prophet asked him to.
I thought about it, if there could have been a different voice that counseled Namaan to ignore what the Prophet Elisha commanded Namaan to do, the sad ending would have been that Namaan would have remained a leper all his life. However, Namaan listened to good counsel, obeyed, and received his miraculous healing.
Let’s be careful whom we receive counsel from. To many their counselors are those who work with them, to many who are married for many years their Mom or Dad are still their counselor.
Amnon heeded bad counsel
The second person we are looking at is a man named Amnon, who had as his friend a man named Jonadab, who was a worthless friend. Amnon lusted after his step sister, and it was Jonadad who misled him to do the wrong thing and mess up the life of his step sister. Amon’s life went spiraling downward only because of the wrong counsel that he gave heed to. Amnon was the eldest son of David, but he lost everything only because of listening to the advice of his one friend Jonadab.
If we do not walk away from those who give bad counsel we too are in danger of falling into pitfalls that Amnon faced.
• Who are your counselors?
This is an important question we must answer. Who are the ones we turn to in times of confusion and when we need to make a decision? If our counselors are godly people who are walking close to God we are safe. On the other hand if they are ungodly counselors, they will lead us astray.
Uzziah increased in power and fame
We read in 2 Chronicles 26:7, “God helped him defeat the Philistines, the Arabs living at Gurbaal, and the Meunites.” (ISV)
Also in 2 Chronicles 26:9, “Uzziah strengthened the fortifications of Jerusalem by building towers at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and where the wall turned.” (ISV)
2 Chronicles 26:11, “He had a large army ready for battle. Its records were kept by his secretaries Jeiel and Maaseiah under the supervision of Hananiah, a member of the king's staff.” (ISV)
2 Chronicles 26:15, “In Jerusalem his inventors made equipment for shooting arrows and for throwing large stones from the towers and corners of the city wall. His fame spread everywhere, and he became very powerful because of the help he received from God.”(ISV)
We read about some of the accomplishments of Uzziah in the above mentioned verses. God helped Uzziah defeat his enemies. Uzziah also strengthened the city of Jerusalem. He also had a very large army that was well equipped and trained for battle. Moreover, Uzziah had developed equipment that could hurl large stones from towers and corners of the city wall at their enemies.
Uzziah’s fame spread far and wide. There were three reasons for this, firstly, Uzziah depended on God, secondly, the Lord strengthened him and thirdly, Uzziah had good counselors. In every way Uzziah grew and increased in strength and we read in 2 Chronicles 26:15 that Uzziah became very powerful because of the help that God gave to him. Uzziah reigned as king for fifty two long years.
Uzziah’s downfall
We read in 2 Chronicles 26:16, “But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD's Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.” (NLT)
As Uzziah began to increase in power we read that he became proud which led to his downfall. The one who was doing things that pleased God began to do things that were against God. He entered into the temple and burnt incense on the altar that was specifically the task assigned to priests only.
Pride can ruin everything good that is there in our lives. Think about all the blessings that God has showered on us, and let us be cautious to not let pride enter into our lives. In a subtle way pride will enter, and will begin to change our way of thinking. Generally pride sets in when we compare ourselves with others and think that we are better than them. Sometimes, there is also a spiritual pride that can set in which is really dangerous. None of us are exempt from this temptation to be proud, and hence we must be cautious and watch against it. When someone pinpoints a fault, and we are unwilling to accept it we can be sure that we have pride ruling over our lives.
Uzziah did not take pride in his palace, his army or his equipment, but his pride was revealed at the temple of God when he chose to do things that were forbidden him to do. We see that Uzziah was not satisfied with being a king but wanted to take on the role of priest as well. God’s anger burned against Uzziah.
Think about the origin of pride. Began with Lucifer, and then it exhibited itself in Eve when she desired to be like God by eating the forbidden fruit.
Many have the wrong understanding that God will never leave them no matter what they do. Remember that Uzziah for whom God was his strength, God helped him as long as he walked in obedience to Him. The same God became angry with Uzziah when he decided to do that which God had forbidden him as a king to do.
There was only one person who had the role of king, prophet and priest all in one. That was appointed by the Heavenly Father to be revealed through His son Jesus Christ. Up until then the role of the king and the role of a priest was distinct. Only through Christ we have the priviledge of being kings and priests before God.
Uzziah is angered
We read in 2 Chronicles 26:18-19, “to resist him. They said, "Uzziah! You have no right to burn incense to the LORD. Only the priests who are descended from Aaron have been consecrated to do this. Leave this holy place. You have offended the LORD God, and you no longer have his blessing." Uzziah was standing there in the Temple beside the incense altar and was holding an incense burner. He became angry with the priests” (NLT)
When the priests confronted Uzziah and asked him to refrain from doing what he did, we read that Uzziah was angered.
How many of us have the humility to accept our faults when they are pointed out to us? It is our natural human nature to get angry. When we get angry, justify ourselves and don’t accept our short comings we are giving room to pride.
Uzziah is punished
We read in 2 Chronicles 26:19, Uzziah was standing there in the Temple beside the incense altar and was holding an incense burner. He became angry with the priests, and immediately a dreaded skin disease broke out on his forehead. (NLT)
When Uzziah did this the Lord struck him with leprosy, and it broke out on his forehead. I believe that it started at the forehead because Uzziah’s pride began with his thoughts.
How do we overcome pride and stay humble?
1. Consciously acknowledge God in all your victories. Give credit to God alone.
Keep on declaring that everything we have our work, family, finance, church are all given to us by God alone. Thank God for everything that we have including our life and health and there will be no room for pride to enter in.
David said it this way in Psalm 18:29, With your help I will run through an army, with help from my God I leap over walls. Keep on glorifying God for everything we have and are, and there is no way pride will enter into our lives
2. Meditate on the greatness of God and our frailty as human beings
We must learn to revere God, and give Him all the honor due to Him. If the Almighty God dwells within us it is only His grace, and we should greatly value His presence in our lives. Heaven is His throne and earth is God’s footstool, but such a great God chooses to dwell within us.
The Psalmist says it so beautifully in Psalm 8:3-4, “When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you established—what is man that you take notice of him, or the son of man that you pay attention to him? ”
When Psalmist looked at all of God’s creation, and then looked at men, he recognized that we as human beings are nothing for God to be mindful of us. If God thinks about us, protects our families, holds our hand and leads us every day, we are so blessed. May all of David’s good qualities be found in us and God called Him a ‘man after His own heart’.
This is the best certificate that we must yearn to receive from the Lord that we are men and women after God’s own heart. Once this is done there will be no stopping as to all that God will do in and through us.
3. Search your hearts
Think about a vehicle that we buy. Periodically we give it for servicing thought there is apparently nothing wrong with it. Unless we give it for these periodic checks we will have trouble with the vehicle. So, also as believers in the Lord Jesus, we must go often into the presence of God and examine our hearts to see if there is any form of pride over anything. When we set it right the blessings of God will overflow in our lives.
Keep on giving God all the glory. Never forget to meditate on the fact that God is Almighty and we are weak and frail. Even when we share the word we must do so with fear and reverence and never think that we can do anything on our own. Finally, let’s keep on searching our hearts to see that there is no room for pride.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
