Becoming too confident in your own experiences.

Early in our Christian walk, we’re often eager to please God. We read his word, and we talk to him. We see God demonstrate his power in our lives. After years of seeing God work, sometimes we grow in confidence … but the confidence is misplaced in our own experiences.

We see this occur in the life of Asa – David’s great-great-grandson. In the beginning …

(2 Chronicles 14:2, 4) Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God … He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. There was peace in the land of Judah and Asa followed God and sought his counsel.

When he met his first challenge – he turned to God. An army from northern Africa came against the land of Judah.

(2 Chronicles 14:11) Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."

The Lord gave Asa and the people of Judah victory. Asa saw God work. A friend, moved by God, came alongside Asa with this advice:

(2 Chronicles 15:2, 7)“… The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. … But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

For many years, Asa lived according to this advice. The land experienced peace for 20 more years. But, then Asa faced another challenge … battle was again at his doorstep. The King of Israel went up against Judah; and, rather than turn to God again, Asa took matters into his own hands:

(2 Chronicles 16:2, 3) Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD's temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. "Let there be a treaty between me and you," he said, "as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold …”

Asa bought an ally. He didn’t seek God’s counsel. Even worse, he took the pay-off out of the Lord’s house. We don’t know what caused Asa to take this path. He was the great-grandson of the wise Solomon, but he missed the advice from Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Asa sought his own answers rather than walking with God; consequently, he lost the peace in the land.

(2 Chronicles 16:7-9)"… Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army … has escaped from your hand … [In your prior experiences], when you relied on the LORD, he delivered [the enemy] into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

Rather than be repentant, Asa reacted harshly (16:10). He threw the messenger of God into prison and then began to be oppressive to many in his kingdom. Rather than be repentant, he turned away from God. When he later became ill, we find that “even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians (16:12).” He began to "lean on his own understanding" and power. How tragic!

Don’t confuse God’s blessings and work in your life as personal ability. God provides our power through his Holy Spirit. When we rely on our own experiences, without God’s involvement, we usually end up in dire circumstances. Trust in the Lord, and seek his counsel and make sure that your confidence is placed in him. (Philippians 1:6).