Judah had failed to realise her privileges. She looked upon Jerusalem as a city which was built for her benefit, rather than for God’s honour and glory. We can begin to think that God owes us his favour, that he somehow needs us; that for him to remove us would harm his cause and therefore we hold him somewhat in our power. Do we take church friendships for granted: we are entitled to them and fail to thank God for them. Judah also forgot that she had all these things for a purpose. Like the soap operas, we can begin to think that the whole world revolves around us. Sometimes we can get so tied up with our emotions and relationships that be forgot the work: we build a petty Ambridge on earth. Do not forget the responsibilities that come with the blessings. As soon as we stop being grateful, we are heading for being a wilderness. The Lord cannot allow make-believe in his church.
How is it that a good king can be followed by such a bad one? It happens in ministries. We can tag along and only superficially identify with the stand of the church. We can be organised and busy in the work, and can think we are all doing a fine job, but how deep is this? How much can we let everything slide when we are not being organised anymore? We must have a deep personal desire to serve the Lord. What can damage us? Youth can be very damaging. Youth is happy, carefree; there can be no great sense of indebtedness – three quarters of the world is older than you, and they can do the worrying. Youth can be a great source of ingratitude. It is easy for youth to leave responsibilities to others. We need those who will defend the cause. Be prepared to be worried and concerned about Christ’s church – not in a despairing sense, but in a sense that is ready to stand personally behind the Lord’s work. Let us not grow up like children: not concerned about where the next meal will come from. Are we doing legitimate things and yet allowing the burden of the work to be taken by a few?