by Charles Box
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.
