Our Mutual Friend

            While reading the Scriptures this morning I came across, what I consider one of the most powerful life lessons recorded for us.  The text surrounds the life of King Hezekiah in 2nd Chronicles 31 and 32 (but you must also read 2nd Kings 20 to get the rest of the story).  In these chapters we learn that King Hezekiah tore down all of the "easy god" altars, restored the temple of Jerusalem, and fortified the city.  I call them "easy god" altars because that is why they were built--to make things easier for the people, so they didn't have to travel all the way to Jerusalem to worship.  It is very similar to today. If worshipping God with other believers isn't easy, we stay home and set up our own altars.  I am not saying that churches can't start in homes, but the church is not meant to be a protective covering for the family...it was meant to be a redeeming refuge for broken hearts and broken lives. It is a place where we who have been given so much, now give back.

            King Hezekiah was given so much by God, but he too didn't know how to give back. The text says, "But Hezekiah's heart was proud, so he didn't repay the LORD for His kindness." It is so easy to lose sight of what the LORD has done for us.  When we forget where we have come from, pride grows. In Charles Dickens classic tale, Our Mutual Friend, a servant inherits the large fortune of a dust miser. The inheritance was at first to go to the son but in what appears to be a tragic drowning, the servant inherits all. I must confess I watched the film and didn’t read the book!  But as the story unfolds, the servant who is now established among the ladies and gentlemen of “society,” begins to turn greedy and proud.  He begins by firing his secretary who possesses the highest character, and then estranges himself from his only future heir.  All of this occurs rather abruptly and the reader, or viewer in this case, is left with a sense of great disappointment. It is interesting that when the wealthy “servant” at first acts with a sense of humility, you feel a sense of moral justice and vindication against the snobbish elite.  There was a sense of enjoyment watching one who came from such humble beginnings, to now mingle with society’s elite with honor and integrity—above the conceited rich of his day. But as in all of Dickens’ stories, there is a twist that takes you quite by surprise. But in the end, you witness the greatest sense of humility borne from the most unlikely character—one who understood well, where he came from. If you haven’t read the book or seen the film, I highly recommend it (not for young children because of the river dead; no profanity; no sexual content; the only objection to some will be the low cut dress of that day; main themes: character testing, honor, redemption, love of money, and you reap what you sow)

            Keeping ourselves reminded, from where we have come, is paramount in giving back to God what he rightly deserves. If you look at 2^nd Kings 20 and 2^nd Chronicles 32, you will see that God sent ambassadors from a foreign nation to test the heart of Hezekiah. They came because they had heard of the great miracle that God had performed on Hezekiah’s behalf. But when Hezekiah met with them, he only focused on what great wealth and accomplishments he had achieved. Therefore, God’s judgment came upon Hezekiah, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Our decisions of forgiveness and humility today may, no, will, have generational effects. We must never forget that we have been saved to serve.