As short as Ahaziah's reign and today's reading is, it is a major "soap opera!"
Bad counsel leads to major disaster. Not following in the ways the LORD directs us leads to death. And, then the mother, the matriarch, of this family decides to destroy the rest of the family so that she will have control. Bad business... this desire for power and control.
But, then I think we see that in many families. Most of us are not after major kingdoms, because we know they're out of our reach. Instead, we tend to make kingdoms and subjects out of the people around us, those closest to us. How true the saying is in so many cases: "A man home is his castle." I don't think it's particularly men who like to subject their families to their rule, but many women desire to be "Queen for a day" or a year or a life-time. But, not following in the ways of the LORD, not allowing God to rule our homes, leads to very poor counsel and very poor qualities of life.
This manipulation of others for power, control, authority often extends beyond the family into the work place, even into the church on earth. Following, listening to those who are out for their own glory is a recipe for disaster. It is the making of a soap opera.
My husband and I own and (he) operates na adult foster care. When I was more involved one of my "pet peeves" was watching soap operas in the dining area. I would allow them to watch them in the living room as they are adults and can watch what they want. But, it drove me just a little bonkers to have staff sitting at the table watching "soaps" with the residents I could always tell what they (both staff and residents) had been watching because life around the house always became just a little more dramatic with the more hours spent watching all this drama. Lots of bad counsel and lots of manipulating to get what we want, when we want it, in that television programming and somehow that attitude or lifestyle eventually creeps into our own. We like to tell our children what they can or cannot watch, but are we really aware of and monitoring what we absorbing into our hearts and minds?
I think that there are times when we need to just say no. We need to stay out of the drama because it will drag us and others down. I think too, that we need to do what we can to not allow ourselves or others in our family manipulate anyone to do their will, rather than God's. It is most beneficial for everyone to do what is right in the sight of the LORD.
Ok... getting off the soap box. Just really dislike soap operas....!
Bad counsel leads to major disaster. Not following in the ways the LORD directs us leads to death. And, then the mother, the matriarch, of this family decides to destroy the rest of the family so that she will have control. Bad business... this desire for power and control.
But, then I think we see that in many families. Most of us are not after major kingdoms, because we know they're out of our reach. Instead, we tend to make kingdoms and subjects out of the people around us, those closest to us. How true the saying is in so many cases: "A man home is his castle." I don't think it's particularly men who like to subject their families to their rule, but many women desire to be "Queen for a day" or a year or a life-time. But, not following in the ways of the LORD, not allowing God to rule our homes, leads to very poor counsel and very poor qualities of life.
This manipulation of others for power, control, authority often extends beyond the family into the work place, even into the church on earth. Following, listening to those who are out for their own glory is a recipe for disaster. It is the making of a soap opera.
My husband and I own and (he) operates na adult foster care. When I was more involved one of my "pet peeves" was watching soap operas in the dining area. I would allow them to watch them in the living room as they are adults and can watch what they want. But, it drove me just a little bonkers to have staff sitting at the table watching "soaps" with the residents I could always tell what they (both staff and residents) had been watching because life around the house always became just a little more dramatic with the more hours spent watching all this drama. Lots of bad counsel and lots of manipulating to get what we want, when we want it, in that television programming and somehow that attitude or lifestyle eventually creeps into our own. We like to tell our children what they can or cannot watch, but are we really aware of and monitoring what we absorbing into our hearts and minds?
I think that there are times when we need to just say no. We need to stay out of the drama because it will drag us and others down. I think too, that we need to do what we can to not allow ourselves or others in our family manipulate anyone to do their will, rather than God's. It is most beneficial for everyone to do what is right in the sight of the LORD.
Ok... getting off the soap box. Just really dislike soap operas....!
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