I tend to swing into control-freak issues from time to time. It's a problem area I work on, so when I read anything about it, I try to perk up and pay attention. Today, I read about Jeroboam. Here's the background: God promised David a kingdom and gave it to him. His posterity had the option of being similarly blessed as long as they served God. Solomon, David's son, married women who served other gods, and that became his own downfall. As a result, God raised up a man who would take part of the kingdom away from Solomon's son, Rehoboam. That man was Jeroboam. While David's line continued to rule Judah, 10 tribes were stripped away and given to Jeroboam. Part of the promise Jeroboam was given was the following: "And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee." 1 Kings 11:37-38.
Now. Back to the control issue.
When Jeroboam became king of the 10 tribes, he was afraid the people would denounce him as king if they went to Jerusalem to the temple to worship. Therefore, he created two worship areas within his own kingdom. He didn't have God's sanction to do this; he didn't follow preset guidelines as defined by Moses and David; he added golden calves at each place and called those the delivering gods. In essence, he forsook God and caused the kingdom following him to do so as well. Thus, God's favor was removed from him and his son was assassinated.
So what does this have to do with control issues?
1. When we don't seek God and opt to do things our way, we are controlling the situation. When we take control, we shove God or others and their wishes to the side in favor of our own.
2. We feel the need to control when there is a trust issue, whether it's trusting God or trusting people. Trust opens the hand, lets go, and believes. Control manipulates and is rooted in fear rather than freedom.
3. When we become controlling, we do more harm than good, to ourselves and to others.
So what's the answer for the problem? Trust.
If we look at the promise, God had given Jeroboam the answer for holding on to the kingdom. It was simply to follow Him like David had. Jeroboam could have looked at David's life and known God didn't expect perfection, He expected willingness to trust. Trust for help. Trust for guidance. Trust to keep His promise. Trust to forgive. Trust. He could have seen that David's trust was a stepping stone for Solomon to be the most prosperous king that ever ruled. If Jeroboam would have chosen to look at God's promise and hold fast to it, his life and those of his family and nation would have been blessed.
God's Word holds similar promises for us. We can choose to believe, or we can make a mess of things for ourselves and those whose lives we touch.
Tip/tidbit: Today, let's see if we are walking in fear or in faith. Are we seeking to control situations that are best left in God's hands? Perhaps there are areas where we need to step back and simply trust.
Now. Back to the control issue.
When Jeroboam became king of the 10 tribes, he was afraid the people would denounce him as king if they went to Jerusalem to the temple to worship. Therefore, he created two worship areas within his own kingdom. He didn't have God's sanction to do this; he didn't follow preset guidelines as defined by Moses and David; he added golden calves at each place and called those the delivering gods. In essence, he forsook God and caused the kingdom following him to do so as well. Thus, God's favor was removed from him and his son was assassinated.
So what does this have to do with control issues?
1. When we don't seek God and opt to do things our way, we are controlling the situation. When we take control, we shove God or others and their wishes to the side in favor of our own.
2. We feel the need to control when there is a trust issue, whether it's trusting God or trusting people. Trust opens the hand, lets go, and believes. Control manipulates and is rooted in fear rather than freedom.
3. When we become controlling, we do more harm than good, to ourselves and to others.
So what's the answer for the problem? Trust.
If we look at the promise, God had given Jeroboam the answer for holding on to the kingdom. It was simply to follow Him like David had. Jeroboam could have looked at David's life and known God didn't expect perfection, He expected willingness to trust. Trust for help. Trust for guidance. Trust to keep His promise. Trust to forgive. Trust. He could have seen that David's trust was a stepping stone for Solomon to be the most prosperous king that ever ruled. If Jeroboam would have chosen to look at God's promise and hold fast to it, his life and those of his family and nation would have been blessed.
God's Word holds similar promises for us. We can choose to believe, or we can make a mess of things for ourselves and those whose lives we touch.
Tip/tidbit: Today, let's see if we are walking in fear or in faith. Are we seeking to control situations that are best left in God's hands? Perhaps there are areas where we need to step back and simply trust.
RSS Feed
