II Chronicles 31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
Follow God and Do Your Part
My little daypack has been with me everywhere I’ve gone for the last seventeen years, literally. I take it to the office every day; I have taken it overseas; I’ve taken it in every revival meeting I’ve ever had; I’ve taken in on vacation. It is a vital part of the work I do. Everyone has their own backpack. For some people it may be a computer, a wrench, or some other tool, but everyone carries around their own burden every day according to the work that they have been given to do. It is very easy to either neglect your own backpack or responsibility, or to be frazzled over everyone else’s responsibilities. Neither one is good.
Hezekiah was a man who had called a divided kingdom to unite in worshipping God in Jerusalem as God had prescribed. When it was all said and done, these people went back home, both to Israel and to Judah, and tore down the idolatrous altars in both kingdoms.
Verse 2 sets the stage for the rest of the story. It says, “And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service.” It goes on to talk about the way he not only cleaned out the corruption, but he organized what was right. The rest of the story is about everyone doing his own part.
Hezekiah encouraged the people to tithe in order for the work to be done. There is a very important lesson here: the work of God prospers when we follow God’s guidance and give our part. The Bible ends the story by saying, “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.” Hezekiah did this “with all his heart, and prospered.” When the people sought God and His commandments and gave to the work of God, God blessed them, they had plenty to eat, and they prospered.
The guidance they were following was “as it is written in the law of the LORD.” That was the doing of the work. Later, people gave to that work that “they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.” Life is too short to leave your work undone and to be worried about the work of everyone else. Many times, we are so distracted by other people and their burdens that we don’t focus on our own work. Now we should care about other people, but we shouldn’t be burdened down with worry that keeps us from doing our part. I need to be focused on the work I am doing.
It is a peaceful and blessed thing to do the work that God has given me to do. Be quiet in your position and time. Don’t take on the burdens of tomorrow, and don’t take on the burdens that are not yours to bear. Help others. The work of God can prosper, and it should. Follow God’s guidance, give your part, and don’t wring your hands.