Column by Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: Motivation for faithfulness must come from the heart
Today, I want to bring this question to your heart, "Is just doing right enough?" My text is 2 Chronicles 24:1-2, where we read, "Joash was 7 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest." (KJV)
Here in this chapter, we find a lot of information about the young king Joash. He was a king who illustrates the answer to the question posed in our devotion today. Should we do what is right in the sight of God just because others in our family or our church expect it of us?
For young Christians who are often directed to "Do this!" or "Don't do that!" it is likely that, without even thinking about it, they often do what is right because those who are older or more mature in the faith are directing them to do so. Many times, the estimation of others is what drives us to choose to live the "straight and narrow" way of life. But what if we were to move away or our circumstances change to the point that we were no longer near those godly influences in our life? Would we still seek out God-honoring fellowships and a fundamental, God-honoring Biblical church? Would we purpose to maintain a Biblical testimony, not because of the influence of others, but because we have grown spiritually and have allowed the Word of God to direct our life, or would we choose instead to take the path of least resistance and allow our spiritual convictions to fall by the wayside?
King Joash faced this very situation in his life. How did he respond? Joash "did that which was right in the sight of the LORD" as long as the godly high priest Jehoiada was around to instruct and guide him in the way of right conduct. The life of Joash portrays lessons for us to consider. It is important to God not only that we do what is right and pleasing to Him, but also that we do right for the correct reasons.
Motivation for faithfulness to the Lord must originate from a heart that is right with God. If our faithfulness is predicated upon pleasing others (family, teachers, pastor, etc.) rather than the product of Spirit-wrought conviction, then when the occasion arises to do wrong, we will!
Dr. Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.