Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Showing It All - The Value of Discretion



"Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses - the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine olive oils -  his armory and everything found among his treasures.  There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them." - 2 Kings 20:13

My parents used to call me "Mr. Reporter" - I just had to share everything that I had heard about or done with everyone.  It was difficult for me to keep secrets, because I loved being the one to tell someone else about something they didn't know about, and being a source of news and gossip.  I'm also a very transparent person, so most of the time I don't see the harm in sharing things with others.

On the other hand, my parents have been successful entrepreneurs their entire lives, building up and selling several businesses.  They are much more closely guarded with what is going on with their businesses and personal lives, and the successes (and failures) they have had.  We lived in a nicer area of town growing up, but they didn't like telling people where they lived, and they never wanted my brother and me to talk about it either if they knew we were doing it for the wrong reasons.  They have always had a quiet humility, which has led them to live a life of Godly influence with people from all walks of life.

I have to admit that I've butted heads with them on how they approach their lives in such a secretive way, but as I've grown older, I've come to appreciate and learn from their approach.  The key issue or question is, why should something be shared with others, and what is the motivation behind it? Is it to edify God or others, or edify yourself?  Sometimes it's an issue of pride, or if you're like me, you may be too trusting of others who won't properly handle what you've shared with them.

Hezekiah fell into the trap of pride when he showed everything in his kingdom to visitors from Babylon.  In 2 Kings 20 we see that after he did so, Isaiah the prophet confronted him about it:

"The prophet asked, "What did they see in your palace?"  

"They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said.  
"There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them."

"Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon.  Nothing will be left, says the Lord.  And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." - 2 Kings 20:15-18

We live in a transparent, open society today, where we love to share with the public through social media and other mediums our accomplishments, failures, business dealings, and family and personal issues.  I'm constantly amazed at how much people are willing to share about their lives in public forums.  Like Hezekiah showing everything to people from a distant land, who might you be sharing too much with? And do you run the risk that someone might use that information to take what you've worked so hard to build, like your business or reputation?

Years ago, someone shared a prophetic word that God would share secrets with me.  While there is much that God puts on our hearts that we should be sharing with others, there may be some things that are just between God and us.  As you grow in deeper relationship with Him, I would encourage you to confirm with God what secrets are reserved for just the two of you, so He can trust you with even more revelation about who He is.

Are there areas of your life you are too transparent with others about?  Are there things you are too quick to share with others?  Is Pride the root of this transparency?  Ask God to give you the discretion and wisdom to keep private what needs to be private, and walk in humility knowing the only one you really need to be sharing everything with is the only one who can make sure it's handled with the care it deserves - your heavenly Father.

"Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, 
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered." - Proverbs 11:13, ESV

- Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

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