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THE LORD HATH BROKEN THY WORKS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
2 Chronicles 20:31-37

Matthew 7:21-27

 

Success comes from the Lord.

 

THE LORD HATH BROKEN THY WORKS
 
Solomon’s ships had returned in safety, but Jehoshaphat’s never reached the land of gold. Providence favours one, and frustrates another, in the same business and at the same spot. Yet the Great Ruler remains ever good and wise: He is just and fair to all. May we therefore bless the Lord for broken ships as well as prosperous ones. It is not for us to envy others’ success, or murmur at our own loss. Whatever our lot, let us be precious in the Lord’s sight, even though our schemes have ended in disappointment.
 
Now you may wonder: why did Jehoshaphat fail? The answer to this question holds the secret to much of the suffering of God’s people. Jehoshaphat had joined in alliance with a sinful family. The Lord sent a prophet to warn him, “…Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works...” (2 Chron 20:37). Jehoshaphat appears to have heeded the Lord’s chastisement, for in 1 Kings 22:49 it tells us that Jehoshaphat refused to allow his servants to sail in the same vessels with the wicked king.
 
What lesson has the Lord for us today? Jehoshaphat’s disobedience is a solemn warning to God’s people, to avoid being unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14-18). A life of misery is usually the lot of those who join with unbelievers in marriage, business partnership, or in any other way of their own devising. May our love and loyalty for the Lord Jesus be such that we may follow Him wholly, and be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Do you think this a hard thing? To do otherwise is to go the way of Jehoshaphat: in the end, sadly, you will be told, “the LORD hath broken thy works.”
 
THOUGHT: It is less costly and painful to learn from others’ mistakes.

PRAYER: Father, grant me humility and wisdom to learn from others!

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