Bible Passage: “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good,’ for he thought, ‘Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime?’” (2 Kings 20:19 CSB)
Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 20:12-19
There’s a verse in the Bible that shocks me every time I read it.
In 2 Kings chapter 20, the prophet Isaiah tells King Hezekiah that, while the rest of his reign would be peaceful, one day all the treasures of Israel would be plundered and taken to Babylon, and his descendants would be taken captive and serve a foreign king.
It’s horrible news, and you would expect Hezekiah to feel upset.
Instead, Hezekiah hardly reacts because the news doesn’t affect him directly. He seemed focused on his own life, hardly caring about what would happen after he died.
Hezekiah stands as a warning to men.
It’s tragic if we are so focused on our own times that we aren’t thinking about the generations to come.
Scott Hubbard says it well: “Our families and churches…desperately need leaders who will live for the welfare of days they’ll never see.”[1]
How do we do this?
We’re going to look at some ways to invest in future generations this week, but this passage at least gives us a heads up:
It’s essential to care about more than just the things that directly affect us.
Take the long view. Make decisions that help build a better future, not just for yourself, but for others as well. Mentor and encourage younger people. Set an example for others to follow. Don’t make short-term decisions; make long-term investments in ministry and in people. Contribute to churches that will keep on serving long after you’re gone. Pray that God will work in the lives of the people you love beyond your own lifespan.
Don’t be like Hezekiah. Don’t be content with what’s going to happen only in your own life. You’re part of a bigger story, and you’re called to care about what happens even after your part of the story ends.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live for more than my own life. Amen.
Reflection: How might you “live for the welfare of days you’ll never see”?
[1] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/live-for-days-you-will-not-see
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