Is Idolatry A Problem Today?

But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.  They decided to abandon the Temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead!  Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.  Yet the LORD sent prophets to bring them back to him.  The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.  Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest.  He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the LORD’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering?  You have abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!”  Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s Temple.  That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son.  Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the LORD see what they are doing and avenge my death!” [2 Chronicles 24.17-22] 

How long is idolatry a problem? Is it a problem today?

Many people believe idolatry is no longer a problem today like it was when the Bible was written based on their misconception of idols as chiseled, carved or cast images of alleged deities. Nothing is more dangerous than this misconception.

As we see in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, Judah, under Joash's reign, did well for a while but returned to idolatry upon the death of the God-fearing priest Jehoiada. What might be concluded from this is that idolatry is only held off when Godliness is proactively pursued. Joash basically went with the flow as long as Jehoiada was alive enjoying the blessings upon Jehoiada's dedication to God. But when Jehoiada died, it became soon evident that Joash had indeed not been the proponent of devotion to God alone and he and all Judah fell back into widespread idol worship.

The point here is that idolatry never went away, but lay in wait for Godly devotion to wane and then resurfaced with a vengeance. Zechariah defined idolatry's regained effect upon Judah in terms of unrealized prosperity. 

Like ancient idols in the Bible passage above, the modern idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology offer temporal "blessings" but instead deliver unrelenting financial "burden" thus preventing prosperity. 

Debt, insurance, medicine and technology amount to little more than a costly tax upon man's lack of faith in God alone.

Consequently, idolatry is still very much a problem today. The idolatry of debt, insurance, medicine and technology might be seen as "Idolatry 2.0" in modern vernacular as it has become much more refined since the days of gold calves and statuesque images. But idolatry's end game remains the same: to distract people from worshiping and trusting God alone thus preventing their prosperity.

Zechariah's words ring true today: "Why do you disobey the LORD’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering?  You have abandoned the LORD, and now he has abandoned you!"

It should be noted that Jesus Himself was silent on the topic of idolatry. Instead, His message was purely faith in God alone. That said, Jesus was not silent on the topic of repentance. The most common purveyor of this need for repentance was self-centeredness. Jesus constantly decried self elevation in every way.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

In contrast, debt, insurance, medicine and technology ALL market to, and promote, the same thing: SELF (self-help, self-preservation, self-indulgence, and the list goes on...)! Their marketing is likewise a calculated and manipulative attack on man's faith in God alone in effort to transfer man's wealth unto themselves.

Religion has only furthered man's idolatrous relationship with debt, insurance, medicine and technology by denying (explaining away) all but Jesus' least implicating faith statements rendering faith to be an abstract ideology rather than the literal mountain-moving, circumstance-overcoming gift of God it is. Jesus, in word and action, described faith like this:

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11.22-24]

Only the Holy Spirit, through the truth found in God's Word, can reveal this to us. Otherwise, what is written here only provokes the ire of self-centered unbelief - the same unbelief that killed Zechariah. Joash never had this revelation of God's Word but purely rode on the coattails of Jehoiada as became evident when Jehoiada died.

Yes, idolatry remains.

Father, forgive us for idolatry, all in the name of self-preservation. Forgive us for retaining our stance of "helping ourselves" and consequently becoming unwitting targets for the masterful marketing of debt, insurance, medicine and technology. Forgive us for not trusting You alone by believing in Jesus Christ and all that He taught. Help us understand and accept Your Word for the Truth it reveals. So be it.

What Is A Relationship With God?

A messenger went to Jehu and said, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” So Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate, and leave them there until morning.” In the morning he went out and spoke to the crowd that had gathered around them. “You are not to blame,” he told them. “I am the one who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? You can be sure that the message of the LORD that was spoken concerning Ahab’s family will not fail. The LORD declared through his servant Elijah that this would happen.” Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s relatives living in Jezreel and all his important officials, his personal friends, and his priests. So Ahab was left without a single survivor. [2 Kings 10.8-11] 

Wouldn't it be a shame to do the will of God, even fulfill prophecy, and yet, not have a relationship with God? That is precisely what Jehu did.

In this way, Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel. He did not, however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, with which Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin. Nonetheless the LORD said to Jehu, “You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.” But Jehu did not obey the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. [2 Kings 10.28-31]

Regardless what prescriptions that I, or anyone else may make to have a relationship with God, every individual is responsible to tend to their own relationship with God. Jehu faithfully fulfilled Scripture in annihilating Ahab's dynasty and wiping out Baal worship for God and yet in the Bible's eyes he "did not obey..." David, on the other hand, resultant to an adulterous relationship, conspired and murdered one of his most faithful men, and David went down in history as a "man after God's own heart..." In comparison, both men indeed did most of what God directed them to do.

To further compare Jehu and David only confuses the matter because 2 Kings says Jehu did not obey the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart, and yet David, completely disregarded and disobeyed the very same "Law of the LORD" in committing adultery with Bathsheba and premeditated murder upon her husband.

As I consider the conundrum presented in the previous paragraph, I can think of one thing that uniquely distinguished David from Jehu: David was a worshiper. From the Bible accounts of David's tendencies to worship all the way to the numerous Psalms he wrote, David's proclivity to worship is historically established. Is worship then the key to relationship with God? 

Before we answer the previous question, we must understand that the Bible's clues about Satan indicate that he was perhaps the worship leader in heaven before his fall... So, not even worship secures an eternal relationship with God!

First, we must understand that there is only one relationship with God that is secure for all eternity and that is the relationship with God that existed before time even began. That relationship is the relationship between God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Consequently, no other relationship with God is secure for eternity... oh wait... yes, there is one other: God's relationship with the Holy Spirit. Okay, now, there are only two relationships with God that are eternal: His relationships with His Son and His Holy Spirit.

Feeling left out?

Because the statements made above are true, our only hope then of eternal relationship with God (salvation) is "in Christ" - filled with the Holy Spirit He provides in return for our repentance and faith. It's not about what we do or don't do otherwise but about being in Christ!

We have no record that Jehu was a man looking to God in faith. David's open faith on the other hand has been an example to countless believers for centuries. In fact, many of David's Psalms prophetically point to Jesus Christ. And so, here is the key to relationship with God: faith in Jesus Christ (whether before, during or after His Advent). Faith in Jesus Christ connects the believer to the Holy Spirit. The resulting three-braided cord of Jesus bound together with man by the Holy Spirit is the only possible way to have eternal access to and relationship with God. Then, it is no longer about pleasing God through the Law of the LORD but about pleasing God by faith in Jesus Christ. And, even though it makes most theologians and Christians alike quite uncomfortable, Jesus was very clear about how we could know our faith in Him is indeed reality:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

It should come as no surprise then, in light of the exclusivity of John 14.12, that Jesus also made the following declaration:

But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.14]

Before declaring me a complete radical, just be sure that it is me you discount and not God's Word. What does God's Word say?

Father, may the progression of my thoughts here lead me to my knees in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ! I want my relationship with You to be real, but I know it is completely counterfeit unless Jesus Christ is intimately involved. So be it.

Have Faith In God (Alone) - Continued

At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. [2 Kings 5.2]

To understand the significance of this article, one must read and understand the significance of the article Have Faith In God (Alone) from a few days ago. In that article, it was pointed out that King Ben-hadad of Aram, who, through a previous and costly alliance with Judah (King Asa), had promised to protect Judah from attack by Israel. Ben-hadad was eventually overcome by Israel however and, as a result, he forsook his alliance with Judah when Ahab of Israel spared his life. Again, in Have Faith In God (Alone) it was pointed out that this betrayal is exactly what debt, insurance, medicine and technology (idols) intend to do to us today.

In further support of the argument in Have Faith In God (Alone) that debt, insurance, medicine and technology are idols not to be trusted, here in the One Year Chronological Bible reading today, Ahab's alliance with Ben-hadad proves to have been a trap as Israel is now captive to Ben-hadad (Aram).

God has known all along that idols are not only unreliable, but deceptively and calculatedly focused on taking captive those who trust in them. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology, all with the promise of benefits, eventually position themselves as slave masters demanding endless payments for their "services."

Like Ben-hadad, debt, insurance, medicine and technology promise benefits only to reveal their masked intentions once alliances are made. The proof of this is found in the staggering profits raked in through relentless interest, increasing premiums, soaring medical costs, and mindlessly high price tags on the latest-and-greatest gadgetry while the beneficiaries of their "services" increasingly struggle to keep up hopelessly succumbing to the well-groomed lies, "You need us, you want us, you must have us."

In plain words, the identifying mark of an idol is that it costs something. In contrast, God provides every blessing through Jesus Christ freely.

Every curse found in Deuteronomy 28.15-68 and remedied today by debt, insurance, medicine and technology was once-and-for-all dealt with by Jesus Christ on the Cross:

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” [Galatians 3.13]

Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are costly idols of choice for all who fully reject God. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are idols of deception for unwitting followers of God convinced they are 'given by God' even though there is nothing "free" from any one of them.

God's demand for undivided faith has never changed:

You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]

It is time for genuine Christians to break free from the costly yoke of bondage to debt, insurance, medicine and technology. It will require Jesus-level faith and humility. It will clearly distinguish those who genuinely believe from those who do not. Religion will fight it as much as God-haters. But faith will eventually prevail. In the meantime, true Christians will suffer from forsaking and divorcing their idols - some will even die - but their unified testimony of faith in God alone (faith in Jesus Christ) will ultimately usher in regular and undeniable manifestations of God's glory and power only previously seen in the New Testament. And, just as religion and the world crucified Jesus for going about doing good, healing the sick and walking in the miraculous, so they will decry and retaliate against those who categorically reject the popular idols of this age; those who by rejecting debt, insurance, medicine and technology inadvertently expose the idolatry of all who embrace them.

I speak today as one captive to debt, insurance, medicine and technology just as the young Israelite girl in the opening passage above was captive to profit-seeking King Ben-hadad. My words are filled with hope however as were hers: the God of Israel is Healer, Provider, Strength, Protection, Peace, and more... everything anyone could ever need. Anyone or anything else promising to meet these needs is merely an unreliable and deceptive profiteer.

Father, forgive me for my divided loyalties. Forgive me for adulterous relationships with debt, insurance, medicine and technology. Forgive me for not trusting in You alone (regardless how popular it is to say You provided debt, insurance, medicine and technology). Help me to methodically and purposefully divorce every idol in my life and have the undeniable testimony of pure undivided faith in You - in Jesus Christ - even if it ultimately costs me everything! As Christ in me is my Strength, may I be prepared for the onslaught of ridicule and ire from those who refuse to see the truth of Your Word and therefore refuse to divorce the idols in their own lives. So be it. So be it. And, so be it.

Transfer Of Power

When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. [2 Kings 2.15]

To pick up on what is discussed here, it would be most helpful to start off by reading Taking A Little Trip from this date in 2024.

As I read this same passage today, I realized that every number and event of this story has some connection to Jesus. Furthermore, as I tried to launch off writing my response today, I found myself overwhelmed with all that is there in 2 Kings 2.

What stands out the most to me however is that Elijah's spirit was transferred to Elisha in a remarkable prophetic image of Jesus transferring His power to every believer (please read 2 Kings 2.15 (Who Do You Look Like?)).

If the Church needs anything today (and, it does), it is to reflect Jesus Christ to the world in all His glory and power. Of course those words sound good, but actually when that happens, the end result can and will only reflect Jesus' end result: being persecuted.

If the paragraph above instills discomfort and fear in us, then we have a lot more "becoming like Jesus" to do. We should not be discouraged, but encouraged to dig further into the Word of God.

If however, Jesus, God's Word, is finding ever-increasing occupation of our hearts, we then, like Jesus, will find not tolerance, but excitement about the witness we have the opportunity to demonstrate (again, like Jesus) to a world that so undeniably needs Him - a world God still so desperately loves (John 3.16).

Hebrews says it like this:

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. [Hebrews 12.2] 

What each of us needs to understand is that Jesus has indeed transferred all His Spirit and power to us. Like Elisha however, we must "pick up the mantle (take up our cross)" Faith is involved, but so is action. The opening passage above took place after Elisha "picked up the mantle":

Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. [2 Kings 2.13-14]

Father, may we be found so occupied by Your Word, Jesus, that He, in us, continues to demonstrate His power and glory through us to Your world that You so love! May this transfer of power occur in us every day. So be it.

Who Are Your Allies?

So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors. The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Jehu Son of Hanani, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Israel. Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked. Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea. [2 Chronicles 20.31-37] 

Jehoshaphat went down in history as a good king, however, he still had his problems.

It seems that Jehoshaphat, good as he was, had trouble making alliances with wicked people. It started with Ahab. Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab nearly got him killed in their battle against Ramoth-gilead.

Then, Jehoshaphat nearly died of thirst when he joined forces with King Joram of Israel and the King of Edom.

Jehoshaphat entered a failed business arrangement with King Ahaziah and lost a whole fleet of ships before they ever set sail.

And finally, Jehoshaphat's successor son, Jehoram, killed all his brothers (Jehoshaphat's sons). Jehoram was in an obviously arranged marriage to wicked Ahab's daughter.

So, can a man be devoted to God and mingle with wicked people? Sure! But, it will cost him.

Father, the lesson from Jehoshaphat's life is very clear. I know I can please You and still make life miserable for myself in the alliances I make. Would You help me see what alliances I have made that are causing hardships in my life? May I have Your grace upon me, as I repent and believe, to see what You reveal and respond accordingly. So be it.

Let's Pick On Ahab!

But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the LORD?” [1 Kings 22.16] 

From the context of this story, it is established that this was not Ahab's first time to encounter Micaiah. Ahab's own words indicate they had previous encounters. Ahab also told Jehoshaphat earlier that Micaiah never prophesied anything but trouble for him (Ahab).

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the LORD here? We should ask him the same question.” The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” [1 Kings 22.7-8]

There is something interesting here. Micaiah had prophesied to Ahab previously and it was never good (for Ahab). Also, Ahab revealed that every time Micaiah prophesied, Ahab had to demand he not speak sarcastically, but to speak the truth. Ahab recognized Micaiah's sarcasm every time even though Micaiah said the same thing the false prophets were saying. In other words, Ahab knew what was right and true, but he didn't want to hear it.

Let's consider that statement again: Ahab knew what was right and true, but he didn't want to hear it.

Why would Ahab do that? Or, the better question would be, why would anyone do that?

Why would anyone know what is true but choose not to hear it? Now, it starts to get personal, doesn't it?

Fast forward to today. So many people know (and most even profess) that God exists. But sadly, many choose not to acknowledge God by the way they live. They choose instead to follow their own ways and desires in spite of knowing their own ways and desires are not God's way. Their own ways and desires are not the truth - they are not Jesus' ways and desires; Jesus, Who is Truth Incarnate.

This gets worse...

How many alleged "Christ-centered" churches today are chock-full of people who look and act nothing like Christ? How many churches are made up of people (sadly, leaders included) who do not even attempt to do the works of Jesus as Jesus said (commanded) His followers would do?

It's easy to pick on Ahab for being so blatantly rebellious when it distracts us from seeing ourselves! The Church is full of people who have heard the Truth all their lives but refuse to submit to it much like Ahab. Modern culture has so influenced the Church that it's sheep only partially mimic their organizational shepherd without conviction or concern from the organizational shepherd (wolf in sheep's clothing???) that they reflect practically nothing of the Great Shepherd, Jesus. And they keep showing up meeting after meeting only furthering their resistance against full submission to the Truth that is Jesus as so clearly portrayed in the Gospels.

And, for those who can honestly say they are not like Ahab ignoring the truth, can they honestly say they are not like Jehoshaphat who witnessed it all happen and still did nothing? Jehoshaphat heard the truth of Micaiah's prophecy and went with Ahab anyway, and it cost Ahab his life.

But, "Let's keep those church doors open and keep giving the people only as much truth as won't drive them away so the money keeps coming in! Yes, let's keep entertaining the people so they keep coming back and call it 'the Spirit' rife with emotion, but void of instant life-changing, body-healing power."

Too much? I am sure it is. So, let me, like Micaiah, say, "It's all good! No problem!" How does that make you feel? Confident? Assured? Or is something not sitting right with you? Does something about calling yourself a Christian and not looking anything like Christ make your stomach turn?

This is a call to repentance. For me. For anyone who reads this. If our lives do not look like Jesus Christ of the Gospels, repentance is our only response. Accordingly, we should open-endedly repent until our lives are changed - really changed - to be like Jesus of the Bible Who is the Way, Truth and Life. If we are too busy to do that, ...well, that is the choice to reject Christ Who said:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. [Luke 9.23-26]

Father, Your Word and Your Spirit have spoken to me today. Forgive me for my persistent resistance to Jesus Christ ruling on the throne of my heart. May my resistant will be broken so that Your will may be done in and through me. May my life look like Jesus in every possible way - every day. May my faith manifest in Christ-reflecting power to live "Christ" with every moment and every breath. Change me today - yesterday's change was not enough - and tomorrow's change will be even better than today's. So be it.

Have Faith In God (Alone)

The two armies camped opposite each other for seven days, and on the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day. The rest fled into the town of Aphek, but the wall fell on them and killed another 27,000. Ben-hadad fled into the town and hid in a secret room. Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “Sir, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. So let’s humble ourselves by wearing burlap around our waists and putting ropes on our heads, and surrender to the king of Israel. Then perhaps he will let you live.” So they put on burlap and ropes, and they went to the king of Israel and begged, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” The king of Israel responded, “Is he still alive? He is my brother!” The men took this as a good sign and quickly picked up on his words. “Yes,” they said, “your brother Ben-hadad!” “Go and get him,” the king of Israel told them. And when Ben-hadad arrived, Ahab invited him up into his chariot. Ben-hadad told him, “I will give back the towns my father took from your father, and you may establish places of trade in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Then Ahab said, “I will release you under these conditions.” So they made a new treaty, and Ben-hadad was set free. [1 Kings 20.29-34] 

This Ben-hadad is the one and the same that Asa previously made agreement with to protect Judah from Israel.

There was constant war between King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel. King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa’s territory in Judah. Asa responded by removing all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Temple of the LORD and the royal palace. He sent it with some of his officials to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message: “Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.” Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Kinnereth, and all the land of Naphtali. [1 Kings 15.16-20]

It should be remembered that Asa was rebuked for having made this alliance, trusting in Ben-hadad's help instead of trusting in God alone:

At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the LORD your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the LORD, and he handed them over to you. The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.” [2 Chronicles 16.7-9] 

And yet, here in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading we see that Ben-hadad has forsaken his agreement with Judah and is now allying himself with Israel! This is precisely why God demands that we trust in Him alone: man will not only let us down, but will turn against us depending upon his own circumstances.

Let me make this clear here: Compared to God, debt, insurance, medicine and technology, as inventions and systems of man, are all just as unreliable as Ben-hadad. They promise to deliver their "help" (at a price, mind you) until it no longer benefits them. That is why they should be seen and treated as idols. A faithful servant of the LORD should avoid them at all cost. 

A faithful servant of the LORD should avoid them at all cost??? How can anyone today avoid debt, insurance, medicine and technology??? Why, it would be absolute foolishness to think one could survive in this day and age without debt, insurance, medicine and technology! Right?

And yet, the Bible says:

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.” [2 Chronicles 16.9]

It is imperative to understand the context of 2 Chronicles 16.9; that Asa idolatrously sought help outside of God. Period. No matter how much Asa could have reasoned that God gave the gold and silver to Judah (from the Temple of the LORD) to pay Ben-hadad, any question about that action being right or wrong was removed when Hanani rebuked Asa on behalf of God for doing so. Consequently, Judah remained at perpetual war and Ben-hadad eventually betrayed his alliance with Judah when his life was on the line after being captured by Israel.

God is reliable. Man and his inventions are not.

But, does this mean that we should not still utilize man and his inventions while being sure to give God all the glory? Asa's story and Hanani's Word from God should answer this question without doubt.

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.” [2 Chronicles 16.9]

...And we marvel today that our lives, our nation, and the world are in such chaos while we emphatically declare, "But God uses debt, insurance, medicine and technology!" What part of fully committed to him supports that claim?

Our only bold declaration before God should be, "What a fool I have been to decidedly trust anyone or anything that can potentially fail me instead of trusting only You Who can and will never fail me!" This is infinitely more important in this Age of Grace when Jesus Christ demonstrated and demanded faith in God that defies all reason (thus negating our reasonable but pathetic defense of debt, insurance, medicine and technology):

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11.22-24]

Never have Jesus' words, "Have faith in God," been more needed to clear up man's current confusion (and hopelessness) about what is really God and what is just man's substitute to be like God. I, for one, do not ever want to hear God say, "What a fool you have been," for trusting in man and his inventions instead of trusting God alone (starting with faith in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation).

Go ahead, "reason" if you will, but remember this:

...it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6]

God's Word calls every one of us to pure undivided faith - reason has nothing to do with it because reason and logic are traits of man - and man can and will let us down. Only the world and faithless religion will argue otherwise. What does reason have to do with it anyway? Reason had nothing to do with Jesus walking on the water. Reason had nothing to do with Jesus calling Lazarus from his grave. Reason had nothing to do with Jesus telling us our faith could move mountains. Reason had nothing to do with Jesus offering Himself on the Cross. Instead, faith is what pleases God. It doesn't matter whether it's faith to selflessly live or faith to selflessly die, only obedient faith pleases God.

Father, what a fool I have been to decidedly trust anyone or anything that can potentially fail me instead of trusting only You Who can and will never fail me! I want rid of every idol in my life; every single thing I trust alongside or instead of You. May Your hand of mercy be upon me as I methodically and purposefully seek to forsake the idols that, like Ben-hadad, can and will let me down. I already feel the ire of the world, family and friends as I have made declarations and small steps in this direction. In the end, I need only Your approval though - Your commendation, "Well done good and faithful servant!" So be it.