God’s Kindness - King Hezekiah

About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the LORD, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the LORD’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 32:24-25

Most history buffs remember industrialist John D. Rockefeller Sr. as one of the richest men in American history. They may also remember him as the man who revolutionized the petroleum industry after founding the Standard Oil Company in 1870.

Rockefeller also earned a reputation for generosity. He believed that God had blessed him with every dollar he had earned and that the Lord had called him to be a good steward of that money. He gave to countless worthy enterprises, including many Christian ministries.

In the Bible, the word stewardship means making good use of everything God has given you, including your money, talents, and time.

Though the Bible calls Hezekiah a godly king, he didn’t make good use of an amazing gift God had given him: fifteen years of additional life (see 2 Kings 20:1-6). Not long after the Lord healed him of a serious disease, the heir to the throne of Babylon, Merodach-baladan, sent envoys to Judah to take Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift.

Suddenly, Hezekiah forgot to be a good steward of what God had given him.

A proud Hezekiah showed the envoys everything in his treasure houses and his armory. Before the visit came to an end, Hezekiah had shown off his kingdom’s every possession (see 2 Kings 20:13).

In years to come, Hezekiah’s pride would continue to prove troublesome for the kingdom of Judah. God warned him that the same Babylonian nation that had sent the envoys would one day destroy his kingdom (see 2 Kings 20:14-18).

God gave Hezekiah an additional fifteen years that he could have used to continue faithfully serving the Lord. When he allowed his pride to get the best of him, he contributed to major trouble in his kingdom.

God has generously given you everything you have—your talents and abilities, money, family, and your time on earth. You’ll find further blessing when you use these resources to glorify God and bless others.