Render to God According to the Benefit

In 2 Kings 20:1-11, the Bible relates that Hezekiah, king of Judah, was “sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah…said unto him, thus saith the LORD, set thine house in order; for thou shalt die and not live.” We then read that Hezekiah “prayed unto the LORD…and wept sore…and the LORD came to him [Isaiah], saying, … tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years…”

Hezekiah, evidently overwhelmed by the word of the LORD said, “What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?” (v.7). Hezekiah asked that the shadow return backward ten degrees as a sign and the LORD did just that. That was quite the impressive miracle just to convince Hezekiah that God’s promise was true.

What a marvelous thing! Hezekiah prayed and God gave him a miraculous sign. He then not only healed him, but he gave him fifteen additional years. How good God is! But unfortunately, there is more to the story. 

We read in the book of Chronicles, “In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he [the LORD] spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore, there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 32:24-25). Instead of humbly thanking God for the mercy shown unto him, he became filled with pride. Therefore, God’s wrath was upon him. What a tragic end to this great work of God in Hezekiah’s life.

Before we jump on the band wagon condemning the self-destructive folly of Hezekiah, should we not examine ourselves? How often do we take the time to give God thanks for his goodness to us? The Scriptures record “blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation” (Psalm 68:19). We read again, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Every day God loads us with benefits; things like a good night’s rest, the ability to eat and enjoy food, the joy of family, employment that is useful to our needs and desires. The list goes on and on. Its length, however, is cut short by our own failure to pause and reflect. We need exhorted as the Psalmist wrote to not forget his benefits! This takes effort on our part, effort we seldom expend.

The New Testament reminds us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Take a moment to think of something genuinely good, something that truly is a blessing. It was given to you by God. When Jesus healed ten lepers and instructed them to show themselves to the priest, only one returned to “give God glory” for healing him (Luke 17:17). Jesus noted and asked “where are the nine”? Let’s not number ourselves among the nine but render to God according to the benefit done unto us.