Has God Asked Too
Much?
Israel’s three most famous kings were Saul,
David and Solomon. After Solomon’s death his son Rehoboam, became king in
Israel. In the early days of Rehoboam’s reign, Jeroboam and the people of
Israel came to him to ask that their burdens be lightened. Sadly, Rehoboam
would not listen.
This resulted in the kingdom of Israel
being divided. Rehoboam was left with only one tribe and that for David’s sake.
After the kingdom was divided, Jeroboam became king of Israel, the northern
kingdom. He was a very wicked king. He is remembered by the statement, “he made
Israel sin.”
In order to keep Israel from pulling away
from him he said, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem!” (1 Kings
12:26-28) Jereboam tried to make it easier for the people by setting up a false
god in Bethel and another in Dan. The Bible says, “This thing became a sin.”
What Jeroboam did was a sin of idolatry, a sin of doubt, a sin of rebellion.
Jeroboam said, “It is asking too much to
ask people to do what God says.” We see the same tendency among people today.
Let us ask, “Has God asked too much of us?”
Has God asked too much of us by
asking us to obey the gospel? To become a Christian you must hear the
gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sins (Acts
17:30), confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized into Christ (Galatians
3:27). The Bible says, “And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were
baptized.” (Acts 18:8)
Has God asked too much of us by
asking us to stay faithful? “Well done good and faithful servant” is
some of the most encouraging words in the Bible. Only those who do the will of
the Father have the right to the tree of life. (Revelation 14:13) The faithful
will receive the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
Has God asked too much of us by
asking us to worship in spirit and in truth? Jesus said, “God is
Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
On every Sunday each Christian must pray (1
Thessalonians 5:18), give (I Corinthians 16:2), study (Acts 2:42), sing
(Ephesians 5:19), and commune. (Acts 20:7)
There is urgency in your gospel obedience, “now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) After you become a Christian, you must “be steadfast, immoveable. Always abounding in the work.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) God has not asked too much.
By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church
of Christ, P.O. box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA