“He put his household in order and hanged himself” (2 Samuel 17.23.)
Introduction. Ahithophel was for years the friend and adviser of David. Then when David’s son, Absalom, tried to steal David’s throne, Ahithophel crossed over to the popular side, with Absalom. And when Absalom refused his advice, he put his affairs in order and hanged himself. That is very singular, to neatly put your house in order just before you foolishly commit suicide. Don’t laugh, this mixture of thoughtfulness and craziness is almost universal among us.
(1) The Hard Laborer. You may have plowed faithfully for your employer, but have you asked to have your heart plowed with the gospel? You delight in the rose that will wither, but take no thought for your undying nature? I understand and respect that you want to do well at your job, but work is a minor matter compared to eternal concerns. Do you know that your soul will outlast the sun? Will you be a faithful servant of men, and then die as unfaithful to God?
(2) The Careful Businessman. You are careful in business. That’s good. But be careful you are not like that woman who gathered gold coins from off the boat floor, wrapped them around her waist and then leaped off the sinking ship! Like a stone she went down—to her destruction!
(3) The Thoughtful Student. There you are with all your books to help you get the degree. You burn the midnight oil so you can be numbered among the intelligent. When will you look into the Bible? Will you be called into the academy of the smarts, and then miss the roll call of heaven?
(4) The Law-Changing Politician. It seems to me to be the greatest of all contradictions that a man would think himself able to govern the affairs of a country, province, or region, and yet lose his own soul; that he would angrily and forcefully condemn wars and all sorts of evils, and yet be at war with God and a slave to sin. He that preaches freedom should himself be free.
(5) The Fiery Preacher. I pray God to show me if I am included in any way here. There are masters who preach and teach what they themselves have never experienced and felt. How inconsistent to tell of the fountain and not be washed in it!—to warn of hell and then go there! Let this caution also fall to Sunday-school teachers, Bible women, city missionaries, etc.
(6) The Loving Parent. You are so anxious to pamper your children with every good thing. Do you take as good care of your soul? Is it washed in Jesus’ blood and clothed with his righteousness? Look at your little ones in their cots tonight and say, “They are little sermons to me.”
(7) The Fake Christian. This is my last crayon sketch. It is the oddest and strangest one of all. Why promote a church unless you are spiritually in it? Why defend the faith when you are not justified by faith? Why keep the Sabbath and yet not enter into rest? An unsaved person who contributes to a church is like the men who helped Noah build his ark but refused to get into it.
Selection from Conclusion. “If thou puttest away from thee the Christ, who says, ‘Look unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth,’ you may be very wise, and you may arrange your business cleverly, but for all that, you are no wiser than the great fool of my text, who set his house in order and hanged himself. God teach hearers and readers to be wise ere yet this year is gone. Amen.”
