Showing Off
The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon.
Isaiah 39:4–6 (NIV)
4 “What did they see in your palace?” Isaiah asked.
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty:
6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,” says the Lord.
The Subtle Danger of Success
Today’s reading is about King Hezekiah who, after receiving God’s healing and deliverance, chose to show off his wealth and abundance to visiting envoys. Instead of pointing to the God who healed him, he displayed his treasures. Because of his pride, the Lord declared that everything would one day be taken away.
There are many lessons to learn from this story. When we experience God’s blessings, there will be times when we feel proud and want to share what has happened. However, instead of pointing to God who gave us those blessings, we may fall into the trap of putting ourselves on the pedestal. It is often said that the greatest spiritual danger does not come during hardship, but during success.
Remembering the Source
Our Lord Jesus also warned about this when He spoke of how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. The issue is not wealth itself, but where our trust lies. It is therefore important that we always remember from whom everything we have comes. We must stay grateful for all of it, remain humble, and give God the glory in all things.
What Are We Showing the World?
Another lesson we can learn is about choosing what to show the world. When King Hezekiah had the opportunity to speak to the envoys, he did not share how God extended his life. He did not testify about the miracle he had just experienced. Instead, he chose to show his palace and his wealth — the material blessings that God had given and could easily take away.
We need to bear in mind that all things come from God. Before we boast about what we have, we should boast about the One who gave it to us. Be grateful for all He has given and all He will continue to give. As easily as He gives, it can also be taken away. The one thing we must always guard and nurture is our relationship with Him.
A Sobering Reminder
As we go into the weekend, let us carry this sobering thought with us. Whatever we have, we give thanks to our God with humility and gratitude. If there is anything we are to “show off” to others, let it be our bond with Him. That is something we can always be proud of.
If this spoke to you, consider subscribing to follow along my journey of faith, meditation, and rebuilding — one day at a time.
Your support truly means more than you know. ❤️