Day Eight

Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, ⁵ let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” - 2 Kings 12:4-5

Wisdom is a gift from God that is often obtained from older, godly people. The book of

2 Kings tells the stories of the leaders of Israel and Judah and how they either obeyed God or sinned against Him. The faithfulness, or lack thereof, of the kings led God’s people to seasons of provision and seasons of correction. The people were blessed when kings did what was right in the eyes of God, and they suffered when kings lived according to the world and their own desires. The book of 2 Kings is not merely a historical record, but a spiritual account of how God’s people are shaped by the spiritual devotion of their leadership.

Jehoash was one of the youngest kings in recorded history. At only seven years old he ascended to lead the people of Judah. While he was young and inexperienced, he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He acted that way largely because of the mentorship of Jehoiada, the priest. While wisdom doesn’t always come from age, it often comes through the aged! The young king was wise to listen to wisdom.

Jehoash’s heart to honor the LORD led to something tangible. Faith led to action. He chose to repair the temple, even though it was a costly endeavor. His desire was not to make the house of the LORD lavish or extravagant, but to repair it to a functional place of worship that would be honoring to the LORD for years to come. Jehoash’s decision to repair the temple revealed his heart; one that was devoted to proper stewardship, not promoting himself or his own legacy. Jehoash was not interested in extravagance, but in restoring a place where God’s people could worship rightly.

Jehoash realized that the gifts God gives us are not meant for comfort or display, but for honoring the Giver Himself. Faithful stewardship is not measured by how much we possess, but by how willingly we offer what we have to the LORD. When we steward God’s resources wisely and give generously, we participate in His work of restoration, creating opportunities for others to encounter Him for generations to come. May our stewardship of God’s resources be marked with joy, wisdom, and generosity, and let it be a blessing that outlasts us.

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