2 Chronicles 31:20, 21 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and worked that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.… I. A LOFTY CONCEPTION OF WHAT TRUE PROSPERITY IS. 1. Negatively. It is not personal, material, and temporal aggrandizement, inasmuch as one might gain the whole world, and yet lose his own soul (Matthew 16:26); thus seeming to succeed, but in reality only gaining a disastrous failure. 2. Positively. It is working that which is good, right, and faithful before the Lord as Hezekiah did - constructing a life in harmony with the Divine ideal of what a life should be, viz. (1) good, such as God can approve, admire, and pronounce excellent (Genesis 1:31); (2) right, according with the law of duty prescribed for God's intelligent creatures; and (3) faithful, in the sense of proceeding from a spirit of fidelity towards God. A life fashioned after this model is prosperous, no matter what its external environment may be. II. A RIGHT IDEA OF HOW TRUE PROSPERITY SHOULD BE SOUGHT. 2. Generally, by seeking God. Only in the knowledge and service, favour and fellowship of God, can the ideal of life above outlined be realized. To designate that career successful which has never proposed for its aim, and consequently never reached as its end, a personal acquaintance with God - which has never occupied itself with either ascertaining or doing God's will - is simply to misapply language. 2. -Particularly, by rendering to God acceptable worship and true obedience. To worship and obey God the chief end of man. No life can be successful which offers its homage and service to another than God, or offers only homage self-devised, and service self-directed. Both in worship and in duty the Law of God, with its specific commandments, must rule. III. A CORRECT METHOD OF PURSUING AFTER TRUE PROSPERITY. It must be sought after: 1. Always. Hezekiah kept the above aim before him "in every work that he began." Mere occasional efforts after goodness will result in nothing but failure. 2. Earnestly. Hezekiah sought it with all his heart. Half-hearted endeavours can only terminate in feeble achievements. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," etc. (Ecclesiastes 9:10); "This one thing I do" (Philippians 3:13). 3. Religiously. Whatever works Hezekiah engaged in were done "before the Lord his God," as in his sight and for his glory. So should it be with Christians. "Whether therefore ye eat or drink," etc. (1 Corinthians 10:31); and "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord," etc. (Colossians 3:23). - W. Parallel Verses KJV: And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. |
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