The Joash Chest

"Jehoida the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the Lord. The priest who guarded the entrance put into the chest all the money that was brought to the temple of the Lord." 2 Kings 12:9

As I grew up in my home church through my teen years and also when I served as a youth pastor in my 20’s, two of those ministries had what they called the Joash chest. Though Jehoida the priest made the chest, it was Joash the King that ordered him to do so. The reason? Seems as though the temple had fallen into disrepair. Though we preach firmly that the church today is not the building, we still must maintain it and protect it and beautify it appropriately. The Joash chest made sure there were monies to hire craftsmen to make quality repairs and improvements. There were actually two problems this solved. A tendency to make cheap fix-it temporarily repairs and that monies got spent in other places instead of taking care of the temple. In both churches that did this, they were very serious about the dedicated monies and the quality of work. As was true for Joash and the priests also. Grace Harbor recently made some beautification improvements that were done very nicely. There are more needed. But these changes truly made a difference and so will the next ones. Here is the principle and commitment we should continue at Grace Harbor. 

1. Never forget that ministry is about people first. We must remain true to spreading the love of the gospel message of redemption.
2. And…. gotta take care of the temple, or His facility, the church.
3. Must also care for the individual temples, each believer too.

Keeping those in balance and check will always help a ministry to thrive. Somewhere between having an edifice complex where the building and grounds become too important and neglecting disrepair is a place where we can be good stewards of the resources He has blessed us with.

We will continue to prayerfully seek His will and guidance.

Pray With Us,
Pastor Fred

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