How would you feel if God asked you to throw away $2.7 million? When we face difficult financial decisions, our true treasure is brought to light. If money is our treasure, we will cling to it; but if Christ is our ultimate treasure, money is an afterthought. In business, we will constantly be pressured to put God on the sideline and trust in other things for our desired outcomes.
In 2 Chronicles chapter 25, Amaziah is introduced as the new king of Judah and immediately faces this tension. As he was preparing for war, he gathered 300,000 of his own men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and also hired 100,000 mercenaries from Israel for 100 talents of silver. Shortly after this, a man of God came to Amaziah and said “Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel… Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow” (verses 7, 8).
Amaziah responds in verse 9, “But what shall we do about the 100 talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”
On today’s market 100 talents of silver is conservatively worth $2.7 million. So it is no surprise that Amaziah was concerned with losing his investment paid to the Israelite mercenaries. Not only this, Amaziah was asked to send home 25% of his fighting force. He was stuck between trusting God and making an utterly foolish decision if this was not from God.
Our choice to follow God can often be unpopular, appear foolish to others, and might even bring further backlash. In Amaziah’s case, he ultimately sent the men of Israel home and they became so enraged at his decision that they plundered cities throughout Judah and killed 3,000 people behind Amaziah’s back as they left.
God does not promise to reward us every time we choose to do the right thing in the way we might want. The man of God said “The Lord is able,” not, “The Lord will do it.” Often following God will have an earthly cost. However, what you stand to lose will pale in comparison to the richness of an unhindered relationship with God. These situations always bring us back to trusting God because He is able, He is bigger and He sees beyond our immediate situation to a bigger picture. God’s glory and honor is worth more than a key client, deal, or a large sum of money. When our stock is in God, the value of these earthly things are diminished and we are able to release them.
There is more to be found at the end 2 Chronicles 24 and into 25 on the story of Amaziah. A deeper read has more to teach us about our leadership, business, and trusting God wholeheartedly. We must strive to conduct business and all our dealings to exalt Christ as our heart’s greatest treasure…walking forward by faith because our stock is in God more than anything else.