“Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him (Elijah), and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ” ~ II Kings 1:9
REFERENCE:
Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. We face the same challenges in life, have the same hours in a day, are tempted by satan and men, have bills to pay, deal with emotional challenges, and are subject to the same policy of our governments or global or national economic hardship. What matters, however, is each person’s response to life.
The account in our text is rather flustering as I wonder why God’s prophet is invoking fire to roast the king’s soldiers. However, the Holy Spirit opened my heart to learn instruction from the account; He showed me that the three captains of fifty are a lesson on how different people respond to life and the situations they grapple with. King Ahaziah (upon hearing Elijah’s negative prediction about his illness) sent his soldiers to arrest Elijah. We will learn from them.
The first captain went in IGNORANCE. He went, not knowing what would befall him and his men. He did not understand the dangers involved in the mission and the kind of man he was to arrest. He had no privilege of reconnaissance; he just went carelessly and foolishly. He made no probe or inquiry about the mission, and since ignorance is costly, it cost him his life. Ignorance is not bliss like it is said; it is grievous. If you think education or learning is expensive, try ignorance.
Many people, like this captain, assume that life will take care of itself; they believe that God will do whatever He wants to do whenever He wants to do it; they think that they can become rich without much effort or study. They believe learning, reading, getting mentored, or training wastes time and is too laborious. They do not know the processes that lead to wealth, wellness, good marriage, business, and academic success, and they would not try.
Ignorance cost this captain his life. It may not cost you yours (dying), but it may cost you living a meaningful and fulfilled life. Ignorance can keep you poor, sick, struggling, and frustrated with a low self-image, bitter at life and everyone. Sadly, the captain did not die alone; fifty men went down with him. Your family, team, or organization will suffer if you remain ignorant. Make it your aim to get information. Read, learn, and study life. That is a good response to life.
We will continue tomorrow.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Proverbs 19:2, Hosea 4:6, and Acts 17:30
PRAYER:
Lord, give me the discipline to study, inquire, and learn. May I not approach life in ignorance so I will not lose what matters to me. Give me a hunger for knowledge, and as I increase in learning, may my life incrementally move from glory to glory, in Jesus’ name.
Amen 🙏🏽