In the Old Testament, King Jehu initially obeyed God’s commands through the prophet Elisha to punish evil rulers like Ahab and Jezebel. But 2 Kings 10 reveals Jehu’s ultimate downfall – though he did right things, he failed to wholeheartedly serve the Lord.
Jehu followed God’s instructions to fulfill specific tasks. He got rid of idols and killed wicked leaders as told. Yet at the same time, he continued worshipping false gods and following the sinful ways of Jeroboam. Jehu compartmentalized his faith, keeping parts of his life for himself.
Many today do the same. We go to church but don’t fully surrender every area to God. We want blessings without total commitment. But Scripture repeatedly calls us to serve the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5, Luke 10:27).
Halfhearted devotion shortchanges both God and ourselves. It robs us of God’s full presence and joy. It leaves room for idols and secret sins to creep back in. Jesus condemned lukewarm faith (Revelation 3:16).
As Easter approaches, examine your heart. Have you reserved any corners of your life for selfish pursuits versus God’s purposes? Identify compromises and complacency. God wants complete trust and obedience.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal any gaps between your actions and motivations. Ask Him to align your heart fully with God’s heart. May our passion reflect Christ’s passion for the Father’s will.
God blesses wholehearted surrender with spiritual richness and strength. When we hold nothing back, His grace flows freely. Serving God with our whole heart positions us to walk in the fullness of His calling and victory He purchased. There is no greater adventure than following Him with reckless abandon!
In Christ,
Stephen H. Hammond
President
AUTHOR BIO
Stephen H. Hammond, president and founder of Christian Values Investing Inc., established the first “fee-only” Biblical responsible investment advisory firms in 1993 to help Christians align investments with their values and better manage finances from a biblical perspective. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a finance degree and worked in the Investment Banking industry before joining Merrill Lynch in 1988. Stephen is a published author and speaker, a spirit-filled Christian who traces his faith heritage to preacher ancestors. In 2005, he established the nonprofit Covenant Financial Ministries to teach biblical stewardship principles and money management. Stephen has decades of experience in money management and financial planning. and serves with Kingdom Advisors and the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants. He has appeared on radio and television, spoken at churches, and authored books including Mission Possible: An Investment Guide for Christians and The Successful Life Manager. He married Angela in 1990, and has two adult children.
