A LITTLE SUCCESS CAN LEAD TO OVERCONFIDENCE

PROCLAMATION

“But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: ‘A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon…You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud.  But stay at home!  Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”  2 Chronicles 25:18-19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION 

King Joash was severely wounded in the battle with the Arameans and when they withdrew from the city, his officials conspired against him for killing the son of Jehoiada the priest and they killed him, and his son Amaziah succeeded him as king. (2 Chronicles 24:27)  Amaziah did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord but not wholeheartedly. (2 Chronicles 25:1-2)  He killed the men who had killed his father Joash, but he followed the law of Moses and did not kill their children. (2 Chronicles 25:2-4)  He listened to the man of God regarding the hiring of paid soldiers, (2 Chronicles 25:6-10) but after he defeated the Edomites he brought back their idol gods, set them up and worshiped them. (2 Chronicles 25:14)  When the man of God confronted him about this, he would not listen to him. (2 Chronicles 25:15-16)  Then he consulted his own advisers and challenged Jehoash king of Israel to a battle and was routed by them. (2 Chronicles 25:17-22)

APPLICATION

Sometimes we let a little bit of success go to our heads.  We think that we are more than we actually are.  When our head is in the clouds and our nose is in the air, we frequently stumble.  The Bible teaches us not to have an over inflated opinion of ourselves, and not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. (Romans 12:3)  A proud heart is an abomination to The Lord God. (Proverbs 16:5)  We should be thankful for every success that we have and praise God for it. (Proverbs 3:6)  We have no reason to get “the big head”, because we can do nothing without Him.  It is because of Him that we live, move, and have our very being. (Acts 17:28)  Let us not take credit for that which The Lord God has done, and let us give Him all of the praise, honor, and glory that He is due.