Dealing Faithfully

When a person sees a need and puts a plan together to accomplish something good, it doesn't guarantee good results--even for kings.  King Joash noticed the temple was becoming dilapidated and in need of repair, so he commanded dedicated gifts and census tax brought by the people were to be received by the priests for the purpose of repairing the temple.  It seems years passed before it was evident the priests continued to receive money but no work had been done on the building.  The priests had plenty of responsibilities already, and I suspect not all of them were skilled builders who were able to address the disrepair.  After the king confronted the priests for their inaction on the repairs, they agreed not to receive any more money or be the ones responsible for fixing the temple.

A new plan was put into motion in 2 Kings 12:9-12:  "Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the LORD. ¹⁰ So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD.¹¹ Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the LORD, ¹² and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to repair the damage of the house of the LORD, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple."

The desire to repair the house of the LORD was good, but the initial plan did not go to plan.  Having people give their money by placing it in the box prevented the priests using it for another purpose, and the money in the box established a budget to hire carpenters, labourers, masons, stonecutters and to procure materials for the work.  The apportioned money was given into the hands of those who actually did the work, and there was no need to require an account of their spending because the workers "dealt faithfully."  The priests and workers were both trustworthy in their service to the LORD, and it is a great blessing when God's people are faithful in their business.  I do not view the lack of financial accountability as a pattern for modern businesses or churches to follow, but the integrity shown by all parties is certainly admirable and sets a high standard for all God's people in His service.  God's people ought to be trustworthy.

The financial needs of the priests were supported by another means as 2 Kings 12:16 says:  "The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD. It belonged to the priests."  During a walking tour of Sydney, a common place to visit is the Rum Hospital--which was literally funded by the sale of 60,000 gallons of spirits.  I wonder how many of those who purchased spirits needed medical attention as a result!  It was deemed inappropriate for money given as a trespass offering for sin would be used to make new pillars, doors or tiles of the house of the LORD.  Yet the money given for sin was suitable to meet the needs of priests and was their portion to support themselves and their families.  This situation that unfolded during the reign of Joash shows a good end is the result of organised, proper means, and how important it is to carefully observe if the agreed-upon plan is being implemented.  When a plan with a good aim is not having the intended results, it is time to gather together those who deal faithfully and put a new plan into action.