2 Kings 12:9-16 (ESV)
Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the LORD. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's secretary and the high priest came up and they bagged and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD. Then they would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD. And they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the LORD, and to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the LORD, and for any outlay for the repairs of the house. But there were not made for the house of the LORD basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver, from the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, for that was given to the workmen who were repairing the house of the LORD with it. And they did not ask for an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen, for they dealt honestly. The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.
The work on the Temple is not exempt from being done in the right way with the highest form of integrity. Jehoash was the king of Judah in this time and he wanted to rebuild the Temple after years of abuse and neglect as they worshiped the god, Baal. The work is begun but, 23 years later (see verse 6) Jehoash sees the work is not being done. He is oblivious for 23 years, however. Why was the work not being done? The Priest were apparently using the funds given to the project for something else. They were not “into” a building project, apparently. Even Jehoiada had to be watched. In verse ten, above, we read that the “king’s secretary” had to take over the administration of the project. The only people that could be trusted was the workers on the job. In the above we read that there was “no accounting from the men into whose hands they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen.” So, apparently the only trusted souls in this project was the construction manager. That is sad. The king didn’t even see the problem for 23 years. The priest, even the high priest, Jehoiada, could not be trusted. But, the lower level, middle manager could. God’s work is not to be done in a less that honest, integrity and professional manner. Note what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about the collection of money needed for those in Jerusalem:
2 Corinthians 8:19-22 (ESV)
And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.
When we do work for Christ it ought to be done exactly, swiftly, honestly, and passionately. Not like we read above.
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