Will Anybody Care?

One of the Senior Pastors I worked with during my time in youth ministry told me a very sad story once.  There was a very wealthy man in his church, who was a widower.  The dude was filthy rich - tens of millions in personal assets.  But he was an absolute miser.  Cheapest guy you'd ever meet, and he never did anything for anybody.

The man was a member of my pastor's previous church, and had stipulated in his will that my pastor perform the funeral.  Now, I've been to and officiated at small funerals.  Usually, it's by design.  Sometimes it's because the deceased has outlived most of their friends and some of their children. 

One person came to this man's funeral - his lawyer.  Not his kids.  Not his grandkids.  No relatives.  No friends.  Just his lawyer.  Apparently, nobody cared that this man died.  Well, other than his lawyer and the pastor. 

Sad story isn't it?  Mind-blowing for sure.  How could a person live such a life that nobody cared if you were dead?  Apparently, if you're a self-absorbed, miserly millionaire, you can ensure that nobody will care. 

In today's reading from 2 Chronicles 21:20, we read about the death of Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram: "Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery."

A king dies, and nobody is sorry about it.  Nobody cares.  He didn't even have enough clout to get buried in the royal cemetery.  Usually, even when a corrupt person dies, SOMEBODY will care.  His cronies.  The people whose palms he's greased.  The next in line.  But nobody cared.

Jehoram had an opportunity to continue building on the Godly legacy of his father Jehoshaphat.  But he chose evil instead.  V.6 tells us that he was as wicked as the Kings of Israel, including Ahab, whom I talked about yesterday.  He received an incredible inheritance from his father, but he killed all of his brothers. 

But his greatest sin, and the reason that nobody was sorry when he died, is that he led his people to destruction instead of blessing.  He relaxed the standard of righteousness and holiness throughout Judah, and led the people in pagan worship.  He led them to defy God, and in turn, experience the wrath of God for their disobedience.

As they were living it up, participating in pagan worship practices which were amazingly carnal and wicked, I'm sure it seemed like they were all having fun.  People probably loved Jehoram as he led them in wickedness. 

We have a choice in life.  Every day.  We can lead people in one of 2 ways.  The people that God has put in our lives.  We can lead them to Godliness or Godlessness.  There's really not a middle, neutral ground. 

When you point others to Godlessness, you'll probably win lots of friends and influence others.  It will seem like a good time.  But when you, and they, experience the fruit of disobedience, it's gonna suck.  And when you die after having led people into Godlessness, nobody will be sorry that you died.

So use every opportunity to lead people to Godliness, holiness and righteousness.  Share with them equally the truth and grace of Jesus.  Tell them how He has changed your life.  Show them that God changes lives.  And know that when you die, somebody will care.  And more than that, that you've left a legacy that honors God and builds His Kingdom.