Maid in Heaven

2 Chronicles 25:2

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.

The other week, I had the hilarious time listening to two housewives exchange their maid horror stories. The lady on my left spilled it first that she finally kept her stay-out househelp from coming. She complained that the haphazard work only made her redo the cleaning herself. The other lady commented that the good maids out there are literally out of the country already. What’s left are the younger ones with little know how and those smart ones with an attitude. The hilarious laughs kicked off here as they alternately recalled their experiences to both extremes. Once, they even asked for my preference: someone whom I’d need to wake up to prepare my already late breakfast or that one who’ll serve my appetites in time but with a cold face. I’m glad I don’t have to choose any.

At first glance, no one would categorize King Amaziah as haphazard. In fact, he did what was right in God’s eyes. In this chapter, he acted in accordance with the Law of Moses by not punishing the children of those who murdered his father, whom he justly executed. He also commendably obeyed God’s instruction of dismissing hired Israel troops from fighting alongside Judah, although it already cost him a billion dollars. But just like a househelp who does work for work’s sake, when he saw the neighboring gods appealing offer, he readily ran away and shifted loyalty. He disregarded the grace his Master showered him for many years. There was obviously no love for God’s household in the first place.

Wholehearted, according to the Free Dictionary, is marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm. It is the picture of an ideal maid who sees you as family, not mainly financiers; who has work initiatives, not just as instructed; and who sincerely gives you a smile, like everyday. Now let’s translate that to our service unto the Lord. Are the things we’re doing right, and good, and godly remain unwavering regardless of worldly offers outside and despite difficulties inside?  Are we obeying His commands because we ought to or because we love to? We’ve heard the quote ‘Find something you love to do, and you'll never work a day in your life’.  Doing the right things can be tiresome if we don’t have the right reasons. So let our reason be His love. No master would ever give his life for us like He did.

Taking Sides

2 Kings 9:32,33

He looked up at the window and called out, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. "Throw her down!" Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

In our highschool group page the other week, a personal issue flared up. One of my guy batchmates posted an accusation in all caps, almost bold prints, with exclamation points all over. It was against my friend who, according to him, borrowed his cellphone and never had the shame to return it. The page admin thought it best to delete his post for it negatively affects the group. It was taken offensively as expected. I asked my friend for the real story, and although she admitted the phone was with her, it was not because she was keeping it for herself. There was a prior agreement between her and the wife. She’s choosing to keep her silence because it would do more harm than good. In keeping with peace, but trying not to meddle with their issues, I opted not to take sides and encouraged him to choose to resolve it among themselves. He did not take it well either. Not taking sides, for him, is still not taking his side.  

After his anointing as next king of Israel, Jehu straight away pursued his first mandate: destroy the house of Ahab. With his army officers’ full support, he rode to Jezreel and there took the lives of kings Joram and Ahaziah. Next in line was the wicked Jezebel who promoted Baal worship in Israel and ordered the slaughter of Jewish prophets. He found her looking out of a palace window, face-painted with glamour and dressed in confidence. She was defiant to the end. But Jehu disregarded her intimidation and called out for allegiance from inside. And there, two or three eunuchs who had been attending the queen for three generations, possibly fed up with her cruelties, answered Jehu’s call and threw her down the window. It was enough proof of their new loyalty. T’was like a replay of that scene down Mount Sinai when the Levites’ allegiance to God caused them to kill three thousand of their Israelite brothers who bowed down to the golden calf.  In God’s fight against His honor, He takes no neutral side for an answer. Standing on His side and just standing up there are two different things.

There will be many points in our lives when we're called to take sides. The closer the relation, the harder it will be. For how can we choose between our boss and a co-worker, our teacher against our friends, our parent or our partner? It’s heartbreaking! But who says Jehu was calling the eunuchs to his side over their queen? Or Moses making them choose between his leadership or their friendship bonds? The ultimate question is what Joshua aired that time at Shechem:  ‘Choose today whom you will serve.. the gods or the Lord?’  It is not a question of who’s closer to us, or whom we love better, or who has no one but us to back them up. The Lord’s side is that road which proclaims His worth, preserve His works, and promote His ways. It may not win by popular vote. We can even find ourselves alone there and an enemy of both. But know it is the right way and God will bless you for your faith.  

At All Cost

2 Samuel 15:21

“But Ittai replied to the king, ‘as surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servants be.”

It was God-orchestrated that my week would center on one word: sacrifice. Holy week was a given. The whole world took time to observe the passion of the Christ. TV channels, FB links, text messages - - all revolved around His willful, obedient death on the cross. Hosting three guests in our home was no exception to deviate from the theme. Right after we brought them to Magellan’s cross, we witnessed hundreds of devotees lined up for a long walk ahead. Seeing parents with their small kids, pregnant women, even old men in wheelchairs reiterated the sacrificial journey they intend to take part in. God continued to speak. A glimpse of sacrifice here and there. ‘To death’ was Buck’s line in Ice Age 3 that my kids were watching. First chapter of Ambrose’ Band of Brothers highlighted on total comradeship. In Enemy at the Gates, one Russian baited himself to expose the position of his sniper-friend’s target. In our holiday-spent-at-the-pool, one cousin gave up her swimsuit for the other to make a pass. Then yesterday, we had to miss Sunday service in consideration to other kids who might get infected with Kjaran’s might-be-measles, and to attend to her of course. Thank God for livestream we’re still able to hear an Easter message.

And now I’m reading about Ittai. He’s one of the Gittites who were foreigners in Israel, exiles from their homeland. David took them in just one day (or a few years maybe) before Absalom’s conspiracy. It’s understandable for them to promise allegiance to the king when he’s still firmly holding the scepter. But now that he’s dethroned, benefit level crashed below zero level. The Gittites had a choice. Exactly why their action belongs to this category. David made it clear it’s a wander-ful journey ahead. But once more, they declared loyalty. We expect that with David’s household. ‘Til death do us part’ was their vow. We’re glad the priests and his officials sided with him. It was in gratefulness and for good old times sake for sure. But from strangers? No one would count it against new employees if they wouldn’t show up for work in the heat of labor unions or bankruptcy. It’s not their fight. So why did Ittai stayed? Read again: “As surely as the Lord lives”.  It was an oath of faith to God Himself. Ittai believed in God’s sovereignty and eternity. He believed not just in David. He trusted in David’s God.

Today, loyalty comes with an x-deal. I’ll stay in the company if I’m well compensated. I’ll retain church membership if I’m well attended (or if it’s still well attended :<). I’ll keep this relationship as long as I’m well treated. Where has the phrase ‘I’ll be here because God wants me here’ gone to? No wonder only a few embrace sacrifice because they felt it wasn’t part of the deal. Jesus submitted to the call of suffering in obedience to the Father’s will. If we believe God placed us in that company for a reason greater than financial security, we won’t mind giving more hours without pay. If we believe it’s the church God wants us to belong, we’d continue to serve even if we feel it’s more convenient and they’re more creative there in the bigger churches. If we believe God ordained our relationship with this person, we won’t untie the knot because of character flaws or communication issues. The Lord lives! We say yes to sacrifice not just because there is hope and joy ahead, but because He is calling us to obedience here and now. Yes we have to count the cost, but with Him on our side, we can go at all cost!