2nd Chronicles 26:5. “And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.” HE SOUGHT GOD.
The course of a nation is often set by those who are behind the scene. A wise man’s counsel in spiritual things can to leaders, understanding bring. When a leader seeks the Lord there usually has been one God was able to use To help him grasp all the issues involved when he is called upon to choose.
God helps those who seek Him and opens ways that men would not have sought. When a person knows his limitations and accepts God’s guidance, he’ll be what he ought. He’ll be able to see potential signs of danger and knows what to do. Both the leader and the followers will acknowledge God when the task is through.
When God works through a man who is available to Him, great things can be accomplished. For God makes the projects He knows need doing, to help His chosen ones be established. God knows the dangers and can make the weak strong when they look to Him in faith. He “marvelously helps” those who appreciate the Lord; those are the ones who find grace.
But there is a great danger that follows prosperity and power; the heart can get lifted up. And a person may think they have succeeded on their own, but are not able to handle a full cup. Pride often follows close behind success and we experience great elation. Men tend to forget it was God who worked for us bringing us to this situation.
When that happens and instead of seeking God, we are convinced we did it on our own. The proud can quickly be humiliated; even a king can be deposed from his throne. If the time ever comes one thinks he is immune from the truth and its consequences – God can and does, remove that person until he can be brought to his senses.
Even when humbled there is a price to pay for whatever we sow we will reap. If one sows the cancerous seeds of pride, the results are planted deep. God is determined to bring the proud man down, though once he was humble in heart. It is better to lose all one ever gained, and get back to God like it was at the start.
To end in the scrap heap where the proud are dumped is to be forgotten as a successful man. One will be remembered for what went wrong, more than all his successful plans. A young man stood one day before God, his fear he could not hide – The turning point that came in Isaiah’s life, was “In the year king Uzziah died.”
“O Righteous God, I am kind of scared here this morning. The fear of being lifted up in pride is real to me. I know I have nothing to be proud of, but if Thou art going to save souls in these coming meetings, I pray Thee to humble me and make me to publicly give Thee all the glory. I have this feeling in my stomach and legs that comes with fear and excitement when You work “marvelously.” O God, guide me away from any and all danger of self-exaltation. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”