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Daily Devotion: 2 Chronicles 26:3-5

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2 Chronicles 26:3-5    "Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.  (4)  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.  (5)  And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper."

What is the key to prosperity? We train our children to have a desire to be successful in life. We want them to do the best they possibly can do. The mantra for many generations has been, "I want my children to have it better than me." That originated with generations who had to scrape and scrounge. For many of us, it came from parents who had to endure The Great Depression.  It meant they wanted us to have a good education and a good job. They did not want us to have to work as hard as they did. I, for one, am very grateful for parents who wanted us to have it better than they had it.

But at some point, it seems that "having it better" meant not having to work, worry, sweat out situations. We went from "having it better" to "living on easy street."  I promise I'm going to get to the text, but the word "prosper" jumped out at me. The verse that contains that word also contains the key to prosperity: "as long as he sought the LORD".

We shall see on another day that King Uzziah became a very skillful king. He became a great tactician in battle and provided great safety for Judah. The Lord blessed him because "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord... And he sought God in the days of Zechariah." King Uzziah had a desire to do the right thing and he surrounded himself with godly people including the prophet Zechariah. He was not afraid to ask advice. He was not too prideful (at this point in his life) to take that advice.

Yes, the key to having it better in life and enjoying prosperity comes in setting proper priorities. Jesus stated it in this manner: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)  I do not know who to give proper credit for this, but to have joy, I must place Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

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