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 "And
Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the
house of David: if this people go up to do sacrifice in the
house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this
people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of
Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of
Judah." (1 Kings 12:26,27)
Whether
or not Jeroboam's fears were well founded is uncertain. However,
of one thing we can be sure. He was more concerned about the
people's loyalty to him than to God. To accomplish his
aims, he shrewdly baits his trap with something that entices
most all men — the lure of the easy way. He told them,
"It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem...".
Little did it matter, apparently, that he gave them idols,
pretended priests and pagan worship. The important thing was
that he provided them with an easy religion — and that
overshadowed all else. They became victims of the easy way.
Many
are the mortals who have succumbed to the lure of the easy way,
both spiritually and otherwise. Our advertising agencies have
learned the devil's sales pitch well. They tell you how to lose
weight — the easy way. They offer easy ways to quit smoking,
to achieve physical fitness or financial independence. People
haven't changed much since Jeroboam's day. They still fall for
the same old bait, "the easy way"; and in doing so
have filled the prisons, swelled the welfare rolls and
lengthened unemployment lines (Not to mention the irretrievable
waste of time, talent and potential).
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And,
as in Jeroboam's day, the easy way is still a popular way in
religion. The prospects of having to "go up to
Jerusalem" (or even across town) is still too much for too
many. They would take the denying self out of following Christ;
the giving diligence out of seeking approval; and the striving
out of entering in at the strait gate. Such would have the
benefits without the bother. As Jesus says of others, "They
have their reward."
As
might be expected, even the Lord's church has been touched by
the lure of the easy way. It is felt in our teaching program
when preachers and teachers find it "too much" to make
adequate preparation of their lessons and when Bible class
students find it "too much" to study and prepare
assigned work. It affects our visitation program when members
find it "too much" to leave their comfortable homes
and TV programs to call on the sick or unfaithful. It affects
our personal evangelism program when brethren think it "too
much" to try and teach others the way of salvation. It
affects the purity of the church when we think it "too
much" to finally discipline the unruly among us. Of all
things that contribute to the weakening of the church, none is
more influential than taking the easy way.
The
narrow way can never be the easy way. Not only are the ways
different, they lead to different destinations (Matt. 7:14).
"Going up to Jerusalem" may require self-denial,
sacrifice and hard work but it's the way of the cross — and
that leads home. Dan S. Shipley
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