Read: 2 Chronicles 16:1-14; Matthew 25:21
The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth. (2 Chron. 16:9)
Christians can go astray when they don’t pay attention to small matters—daily prayer and Bible reading, meeting regularly with other believers, complete honesty with money, integrity in relationships, and many other things.
Both the books of Kings and Chronicles conclude that King Asa was a good king. In his reign, a significant religious reformation took place. Only the Chronicler tells us the story of his later years as king under attack from the northern kingdom of Israel, when he turned to the Syrian king to form a foreign alliance. Foreign alliances and international political intrigue are never condoned by the Old Testament prophets. We are left to wonder how the young King Asa got off track. Perhaps an earlier victory of faith had been followed by a series of little compromises. The seer Hanani uses an interesting phrase to confront King Asa: “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth” (v. 9). In context, the verse means that God pays attention not only to the big things, but the small things that form our spiritual habits.
In the Christian life, we can begin with great vitality but later fail to pay attention to the habit of small things. Jesus teaches us that when as his servants we are faithful over a little, God will set us over much (Matt. 25:21). It’s never too late to pay attention to small habits that prepare us for large events of faith.
As you pray, ask God to watch over the daily habits of your life.
About the Author
Kent Fry is a retired pastor and visiting research fellow at the Van Raalte Institute in Holland Michigan.
