Chest of Joash

There's an exciting story in II Chronicles 24: 1-15. It is the story of King Joash. He became king of Judah at the age of seven. Shortly after he became king, he became aware of the fact that the temple in Jerusalem was in bad need of repair. So the king simply instructed the people of Israel to bring an offering of their possessions in order to gain sufficient money so that the house of the Lord could be repaired.

It says in verse two of II Chronicles 24 that "Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord".

He was a young godly man of integrity. It says in verse eight, "at the king's commandment they made a chest and they set it outside of the gate of the house of the Lord." Verse nine indicates that they made a proclamation to bring a collection to place in the chest. In verse ten, the people rejoiced and brought their offerings and placed the offerings in the chest. Verse eleven indicates that "there was much money" that had been placed in the chest. And then it says in the last part of verse eleven that they "gathered money in abundance!"

The remainder of the story indicates that the work was done to repair the house of the Lord. And verse thirteen indicates that the house of the Lord was put in order and strengthened.

We are praying that the congregation of First Baptist Church Collinsville will come rejoicing, bringing offerings and we will be able to gather money in abundance to build new facilities "DEBT FREE" The Joash chest in the sanctuary will be a biblical reminder of how God's people can respond in abundance of that which He has blessed us so that we might bless him and bless the work ahead for First Baptist Church to the glory of Jesus Christ.