1 Kings 15:16-24
And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house and gave them into the hands of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, “Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and he lived in Tirzah. Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet. And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
Tag: Ungodly Help - Integration
There is an objection by some in the Christian faith to integrate aspects of the non-Christian world into our work and ministry as believers. There are some in the faith who believe "integrations" are damaging faith. Whereas bringing "anything" secular into Christian thought is certainly dangerous and indiscriminate integration is not only foolish, but harmful, God gives skills to all men that can be used by the world. In the above passage we see that King Asa (a good king who followed God) reached out to a secular king for support and strength. God blessed his reaching out. Solomon reached out to a foreign entity to find a skilled worker to assist in building the temple. God does not want us to follow the world's philosophy, but it important to remember that God can and does use the skills, strength and truths discovered by the world to assist in His work in our lives. God can use secular skills to further His plan through His people.
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