Forsaking God

“After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 12:1
Solomon’s kingdom was the epitome of prosperity, not just in Israel, but in the whole world at the time. This is the environment in which his son, Rehoboam, took the throne. After the rebellion of the northern tribes, who chose Jeroboam for their king and defected from the Davidic line of kings, we read that “those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their fathers. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, walking in the ways of David and Solomon during this time” (2 Chr. 11:16-17).
But how quickly people’s allegiances can change. In many ways it’s easier to die for God than to live for Him. It’s easier to find time to pray and seek God when we are being persecuted or we are in need, than when everything is smooth sailing. We need to be careful in our own lives, not to neglect or forsake the Lord if we become prosperous, getting too caught up in the pace of life that we don’t have any time to pray – or even worse, think that we don’t have any need to pray. We need to remember that it was God Himself who caused us to prosper. If we then forsake Him, He has ways of getting our attention and getting us back on track, and it may not be pleasant for us. We need to make Him our first priority, and keep a right perspective on life.