READING: 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24
TEXTS AND APPLICATION: How we do the work God allows us to do (whatever that work may be) matters. These chapters address primarily the reign of Joash — a reign that begins well with the restoration of the Temple but ends poorly with a national return to idolatry. Within this story, though, are these words about the managers and workers who restored the Temple:
2 Kgs. 12:15 No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity.
2 Chron. 24: 13 The workmen did their work, and through them the repairs progressed. They restored God’s temple to its specifications and reinforced it.
Integrity and work ethic. Trust and accuracy. Get the job done, and do it well. Do it with complete honesty. Ignore any temptation to misappropriate funds or to take pay for a job poorly done. Whatever our job is, we would do well to follow this model — doing whatever we do for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
PRAYER: Many of us will be preaching the Word today. Pray we will do so with full integrity and complete commitment. Pray that others who will return to their employment tomorrow will be an honest, hard-working witness for Christ.
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25