Tenacity: Adhesiveness; that quality of bodies which makes them stick or adhere to others (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
Synonyms of tenacity: stubbornness, obstinacy, resolve, firmness, persistence, insistence, determination, steadfastness, doggedness
I came across a few verses about Hezekiah that show us something very special about him. Read them and let’s reflect together about this great Man of God.
“And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:21
“This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.” 2 Chronicles 32:30
Do you notice the outcome of Hezekiah’s works? “He did it with all his heart and prospered.” “And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.” Now that’s a popular buzzword in Christian circles today! Everyone wants to be prosperous! How did Hezekiah become prosperous? He was tenacious. He “stuck” to the Lord and all his ways. He obeyed God’s commandments. Like Proverbs 4:27 says, Hezekiah “turn[ed] not to the right hand nor to the left.” He didn’t quit when the goin’ got rough.
Do you think stopping a river and retraining it to go on a different course was an easy thing? Nor is faithfully seeking the Lord and obeying his commandments. Ah, tenacity, resolve, firmness, determination. These words sound good, but they arehard to live out, aren’t they?
I have been so impressed with the need to be tenacious in my life over the last several months. It’s hard to do, but well worth it because it naturally results in a closer walk with the Lord, and in time will result in prosperity of life. Be faithful to God and he’ll be faithful to you. Be wise and careful with your finances and you will have enough. Be kind to someone and usually, eventually, they will be kind to you. Follow hard after the Lord and he will be near to you and direct your steps. Such a simple concept, but a difficult one to resolve to do each day!
What about finances? Being a good steward is not easy. It’s easier to spend your money on the fly and buy what you want when you want it. Or, it’s easier to be discouraged with a difficult financial situation and give up and decide to just “spend and be happy.” But we, as Christians are called to a persistent path. Be faithful with what you have. Be accountable for what you have. Accountable is a mathematical term that means, “to take account or pay attention.” If you don’t have money, don’t buy it. If you have the money, spend carefully. It goes against the cultural grain to be conscientious and slow to make purchases, but in the end, it will yield the kind of prosperity that Hezekiah enjoyed.
Don’t give up on your financial goals no matter how dire your situation! It is worth your effort to tenaciously persist in making the most of what you have so you can please the Lord!
“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” Proverbs 27:23
Katina is wife to Graeme and mom to eight fun-loving kids. Some of Katina’s favorite hobbies are bargain shopping and couponing! She is excited to share good deals, fresh money-saving ideas, budgeting tips, and ways to use what you already have so you can best use your resources to further the gospel of Christ. She believes the first step to a healthy financial life begins with a grateful heart. American Christians are an extremely blessed people!