Scripture: 1 Kings 20:35 – 43
Title: “The High Cost of Being Too Busy”
Introduction: Ahab inherited the kingship over Israel when his father died. Ahab’s name is associated with evil royalty because of the way he lived. Ahab married Jezebel who was even more wicked than him. Ahab set up altars for the worship of Baal and built a temple in which to worship idols. He set up groves for the people to commit gross sins of immorality.
But nestles in among all this evil God had placed one of His own, a man named Elijah.
We find this great king Ahab traveling down the road when a wounded man steped out into the path of the king and stops him. The man appears to be a battle-worn soldier who has been wounded in battle. “As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Sir, I was in the battle, and a man brought me a prisoner. He said, ’Guard this man; if for any reason he gets away, you will either die or pay a fine of seventy-five pounds of silver! But while I was busy doing something else, the prisoner disappeared!" "Well, it’s your own fault," the king replied. "You have determined your own judgment.”
I. THE DECEPTION OF SUCCESS.
a. Ahab the king had won battle after battle even though he was living a very ungodly life.
b. Ahab assumed he was all right because he was on the winning team.
c. Success doesn’t always mean you’re in the right. (with God)
d. In Mark 4:19 we are told that “the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches can choke God’s word out of our life and take away our ability to bear fruit for God.”
e. Sin itself carries with it the ability to deceive you. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Heb 3:13
f. It appears Ahab had been lulled into a false sense of security because of his riches and success. (It all came from God)
II. THE DECEPTION OF BUSYNESS.
a. The prophet that came to Ahab told a story that paralleled the very sane thing that Ahab had done in letting Benhadad the king of the Syrians live. “ . . . thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone . . . .” (v. 40)
b. We have bought in on the belief that being BUSY is the WAY to go to be ACCEPTABLE in America and the Church.
c. This BUSY world has PROMISED us FULFILLMENT, but it has NEVER come to pass. (The story of Arnold Palmer stepping aside to shake hands
d. Just as Ahab was busy making DECISIONS on his own in letting his ENEMY live we have made TOO MANY decisions without PRAYER. (Consulting with God)
“WE are so EDUCATED now we don’t need to PRAY!”
e. We have let too many things get away from us that we used have dominion over. (
- Morals
- Prayer
- Reading the Bible
- Commitment to God and the Church
- Winning people to Jesus
- Marriage
- The Home & The Family
- Honesty
- Hard Work
- Caring for our Fellowman
f. Just as Ahab ALLIED himself with Benhadad we have allied ourselves with the world. (Ahab referred to Benhadad as “his brother” v. 32)
g. Because of being too BUSY here and there we have let our ENEMY (Satan) out or our grip.
III. THE GREATER PURPSE OF DIVINE POTENTIAL.
a. AHAB was a king and with being a king inherited great power to do GREAT THINGS for God and God’s people.
b. AHAB used his power for the wrong things, but God continued to bless him with VICTORY.
c. NEVER forget what I’m about to share with you! – “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Rom. 11:29)
- God will HONOR the call and not the person!
d. God was ALLOWING Ahab to be king and experience VICTORY, but it wasn’t because of Ahab!
CONCLUSION: All CHRISTIANS are equipped with GREAT POTENTIAL because they are God’s children.
Many Christian use their POTENTIAL for the wrong things like Ahab. Elvis Presley for example.
Many Christians NEVER use their POTENTIAL for God or anything else.
