Then it happened in the course of time that his intestines came out because of sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no burning for him…He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. 2 Chr 21:20-21
How sad it must be to have someone end your life story with, “and to no one’s sorrow, he died.”
I remember when I worked at the funeral home that we picked up the body of a man that no one would claim. His body sat in refrigeration for several days before the state finally granted permission for his body to be cremated. After cremation his ashes sat at the funeral home for a loonnnggg time. Long time. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember if anyone ever came to get them. How sad. How is it possible that this man had no family and no friends to at least spread his ashes in the river? What does this say about his life?
In 2 Chronicles 21 Jehoram was made king in his father’s place to reign over Judah. The short story of his sorry life records that his self interest was his top priority. And it started with him killing all of his brothers as his first order of business. He did much evil in his short, eight year reign that the bible doesn’t record in detail. What it does say is that he was punished with a severe disease that eventually caused his intestines to come out of his body wherewith he died a slow and painful death.
The point is that living for ourselves is vain. The bible says that we should consider the interest of others and seek first the kingdom of heaven. If we do this, God will supply all of our needs and take good care of us. Most of the world has it backwards with the attitude that says, “If I don’t look after myself, who will?” This is not biblical. Look after others, and God will look after you. And in the end you will be honored and remembered by people and by God himself.
Hal Chaffee 