Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him..
2 Kings 12:2 (NIV)

I was raised in a Christian home. Both my parents and grandparents were raised in Christian homes. Christianity was our family’s faith tradition. But along my own spiritual journey, I came to realize that there is a distinct difference between my personal faith and my family’s faith tradition. They are not the same. There came a waypoint on my own journey when I placed my own faith in Jesus. It became personal and spiritually active. That made all the difference.

Yesterday’s chapter told an exciting story of intrigue. The baby Joash was hidden from the evil queen Athaliah and became the boy king, preserving David’s royal line. Today’s chapter tells the rather less exciting story regarding the rest of Joash’s reign – the central event being… temple repairs.

[cue: yawn]

Under the rather mundane storyline, however, lies a deeper spiritual lesson. As I meditated on the chapter this morning, I couldn’t help but consider the irony of Joash’s life. He owes his existence to the temple. He was hidden there for six years, protected from Athaliah’s murderous campaign. He owes his throne to the temple. Jehoiada organized the coup that brought him to power. He owes his spiritual formation to the temple. Jehoiada instructed him in God’s ways.

So what does Joash do? He restores the temple.

It’s a good thing. A genuinely good thing. He sees something broken and takes responsibility for fixing it.

But somewhere along the way, Joash appears to confuse maintaining the institution with having and maintaining his own personal relationship with God. The building gets repaired. His heart eventually falls into disrepair. And when Hazael threatens Jerusalem, Joash takes the treasures that had been dedicated to God and uses them to preserve his kingdom. The temple that once sheltered him becomes a resource he plunders to shelter himself.

As I sat with the text in the quiet this morning, it struck me that Joash’s problem wasn’t where he ended up. The problem was back at the beginning.

In yesterday’s chapter, a little boy was hidden away in the temple, his life preserved through the courage and faithfulness of others. Today, that same boy has grown into a man who possesses authority, resources, influence, and opportunity. He has everything he needs to lead well. And for a season, he does.

But, being rescued by faith is not the same as having and growing into faith. Jehoiada could save Joash’s life. He could protect him, teach him, mentor him, and place a crown on his head. But there was one thing Jehoiada could never do for Joash. He couldn’t believe for him. He couldn’t make Joash’s heart faith-full. Once Jehoiada dies, Joash falls away. His reign becomes a disaster. His own officials assassinate him.

I can be a member of a church. I can restore buildings, preserve a religious institution, follow systems, and accomplish worthwhile things. I can even do all those things in God’s name. But none of them can substitute for the quiet, daily work of faith – cultivating my own heart in following Jesus and genuinely living as His disciple.

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