Week of Monday October 28 – November 3
Character Counts - Man as Provider
So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. … And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. - 2 Kings 3:9-12, 14-15 ESV
Guys, the older I get, the more I value friendships with men of courageous character and impeccable integrity. Ted Engstrom included a great description of the sort of men needed in our day in his book, The Making of a Leader:
The world needs men who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocations; who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their individuality in a crowd; who will be honest in small things as in great things; who will make no compromise with wrong; whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires; who will not say they do it “because everyone else does it;” who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity; who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success; who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular, who can say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes.”
As Jehoram, king of Israel, pulled together an alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, along with the king of Edom, to go to battle against the nation of Moab, it is worth noting that Jehoshaphat spoke up, seeking a word from the prophet of the Lord before the battle began. It is also interesting to hear the words of the prophet Elisha: “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.” That caught my attention.
Elisha, the renowned prophet of God, wouldn’t give the other two kings the time of day. There was only one man he respected enough to offer a word from the Lord: King Jehoshaphat. Remember, Jehoshaphat was the one who was about to be attacked by an overwhelming enemy, proclaimed a fast in Judah, and famously prayed: “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). God graciously answered with a miraculous victory. Jehoshaphat was a man of godly character. The Lord values that, and so did Elisha.
Men, as the late, great John Wooden, famed UCLA Basketball coach, once observed: “Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” The bottom line is that God knows who you really are, inside and out! He knows your character!
As a Provider, we must offer a positive example to follow. Because there are always eyes on us as we attempt to live a godly life in an ungodly world, our families, friends, and coworkers need to see a clear and compelling picture of godliness in our words, actions, and deeds. Men, provide those you love and lead with the example of a godly character that commands the respect of others.
- If those you know in your community, workplace, and church were asked to describe your character, what would they say?
- In what ways are you modeling godly character before your children and grandchildren?
- Ask God to make you a man of courageous and impeccable character who is ever striving to be like Jesus.
Character Counts - Man as Provider
So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. … And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. - 2 Kings 3:9-12, 14-15 ESV
Guys, the older I get, the more I value friendships with men of courageous character and impeccable integrity. Ted Engstrom included a great description of the sort of men needed in our day in his book, The Making of a Leader:
The world needs men who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocations; who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their individuality in a crowd; who will be honest in small things as in great things; who will make no compromise with wrong; whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires; who will not say they do it “because everyone else does it;” who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity; who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success; who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular, who can say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes.”
As Jehoram, king of Israel, pulled together an alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, along with the king of Edom, to go to battle against the nation of Moab, it is worth noting that Jehoshaphat spoke up, seeking a word from the prophet of the Lord before the battle began. It is also interesting to hear the words of the prophet Elisha: “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.” That caught my attention.
Elisha, the renowned prophet of God, wouldn’t give the other two kings the time of day. There was only one man he respected enough to offer a word from the Lord: King Jehoshaphat. Remember, Jehoshaphat was the one who was about to be attacked by an overwhelming enemy, proclaimed a fast in Judah, and famously prayed: “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). God graciously answered with a miraculous victory. Jehoshaphat was a man of godly character. The Lord values that, and so did Elisha.
Men, as the late, great John Wooden, famed UCLA Basketball coach, once observed: “Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” The bottom line is that God knows who you really are, inside and out! He knows your character!
As a Provider, we must offer a positive example to follow. Because there are always eyes on us as we attempt to live a godly life in an ungodly world, our families, friends, and coworkers need to see a clear and compelling picture of godliness in our words, actions, and deeds. Men, provide those you love and lead with the example of a godly character that commands the respect of others.
- If those you know in your community, workplace, and church were asked to describe your character, what would they say?
- In what ways are you modeling godly character before your children and grandchildren?
- Ask God to make you a man of courageous and impeccable character who is ever striving to be like Jesus.