You Can’t Have it Both Ways (2 Chronicles 11)

2 Chronicles 11:4b, 17b They obeyed the word of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam… for they walked in the way of David and Solomon three years.

Rehoboam wanted to reunite the places that had divided themselves under his rule, and was ready to go to battle to do it. But when God stepped in and said, “No I’m the one who did this. Go home,” Rehoboam listened and didn’t begin the war. They continued to live like David and Solomon for three years meaning they did listen to God but also followed other gods and idols. So Rehoboam only ruled for three years, because of his deceitful heart.

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus tells us “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon is defined as the things of this world that can divert our attention from God: wealth, possessions, false rulers, leisure, lust, entertainment, technology, social standings, social media, etc. New fads and trends that are causing a stir, causing some to question their beliefs, can be considered in this same group. Anything that diverts our attention away from God is not good for us. 

We cannot give part of our hearts to God and part to something else. Our God is a loving God, but he can be a jealous God and wants all of our heart. The first commandment tells us we shall not take any other god. We cannot put anything ahead of God. Taking time to do other things instead of reading the word, instead of going to Church, instead of praying, these are all ways of putting something ahead of God. When we start to allow things to get in the way, it begins a slippery slope. When we start to allow false ideas into our home, following some new thoughts or trends pushed by others about how we are called to live, when we start to question if these new ideas might be right, we allow the devil to slip his tendrils into our heart. We know God’s word is truth. We have so many examples of what happens when we don’t listen. Yet the world is blinded by the “next best thing,” coming into play. I encourage you to pray for strength in these next few months, to pray for your leaders strength. That God will guide them to stand their ground. That their hearts are protected from the evil seeping into this world in new fads.