“The LORD Is Able To Give You Much More Than This”

Uplook – January 2021 — Grace & Truth Magazine

“The LORDIs Able To Give You Much More Than This.”

Time and again we encounter statements in 2 Chronicles which set us thinking and are full of wise lessons for our lives now. The one that is our title is found in the record of Amaziah, king of Judah (25:9 NKJV ). He did what was good in the eyes of the L ORD , but not with a loyal heart (v.2).

The king planned to engage the Edomites in combat. He calculated the cost and concluded his army was too small. Therefore he hired 100,000 additional soldiers from the kingdom of Israel (v.6). Sadly, Joash, the king of Israel at the time, did what was depraved in God’s eyes by following in “the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin” (2 Ki. 13:11).

From a human point of view, Amaziah acted very sensibly, for what could be more logical than to seek help? But he did not seek help from the LORD. God told him through a man of God, “The Lord is not with Israel – not with any of the children of Ephraim” (2 Chr. 25:7). The prophet urged Amaziah to enter into battle with complete trust in God, “for God has power to help and to overthrow” (v.8).

A Waste?
“Then Amaziah said ... ‘But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?’” (v.9). Amaziah had thought up his own plan, considered and prepared everything carefully, and had paid a lot for it. Now a man of God came along and said that he must send those soldiers back. Surely that was wasting a huge sum of money!

No, instead it was a waste not to trust in the Lord with a whole heart. It was a waste for Amaziah to try solving his problems in his own way, allying with 100,000 people from a nation continuing in all the sins of Jeroboam. Those sins included idolatry, golden calves and a form of worship established by man. In it, what was designated by God for worship – God's temple, altar and priesthood – were rejected.

Amaziah acted in a self-centered manner. His heart was not completely dedicated to God. This is revealed by the fact that in the following passage, after the victory over the Edomites, he did not give the honor to God. Instead, Amaziah brought idols from that land, “bowed down before them and burned incense to them” (v.14). When a prophet warned him, the king ordered him to be quiet. God's servant had to tell Amaziah, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice” (v.16).

God’s punishment came down on the king for his stubborn disobedience. Amaziah lost much more than 100 talents of silver, namely “all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of God ... the treasures of the king's house, and hostages” (v.24). Was he ever able to discover that the LORD had wanted to “give him much more than this”? Even when God knew Amaziah did not serve Him with a loyal heart, a fact revealed to us later, He had given the encouraging message to the king.

In this lies a rich lesson for us. If we go our own way and the Lord calls us to stop, we are, sadly, all too often concerned about not wasting what we invested. Then He has to warn us, and we have to discover – sometimes in a very painful way – that our reasoning does not get us anywhere. Indeed, we have lost time, energy and money because our disobedience does not produce any blessing – only loss.

Still, the Lord does not abandon us. He is full of mercy, love and grace. The man sent by God said, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.” God wants to give you something much better – if you only trust in Him completely.

How much have you already lost by loving the world, by not dedicating your heart completely to God? What amount of blessing, joy and peace have you missed? How much did your testimony weaken in the time that you no longer gave the Lord priority? These are serious questions.

If you have turned away from the Lord, it is still possible to change! Just as the apostle Paul said in Philippians 3, you can learn to regard and treat everything that the world offers as sinful, and that which is attractive as rubbish, in order to possess only Christ for your heart. He is worthy! He has much more to give to you than you have thought to be possible. All the riches of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him (Col. 2:3). He is the Source of all blessing (Jas. 1:17)! Make an effort, with the help of the Lord, to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18)! You will discover that He offers you infinitely more than the world can ever give.

By Erwin Luimes