2 Chronicles 27:6
Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God. (NIV)

So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeying the Lord his God. (CSB)

Jotham’s strength was rooted in his steady and determined life of obedience to GOD. (MSG)

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Decisions have consequences. Good decisions produce good consequences. Good consequences produce compound effects over a lifetime. 

Jotham was Uzziah’s son. You remember Uzzie. He was a better-than-average king in his day. However, he got a little too big for his britches. Turn back to the previous chapter and see this in verses 15 and 16:

In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Compare and contrast this with his son Jotham:

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the Lord, (27:2).

Lesson learned. 

You can learn a lot through observation. Jotham observed what happened to his dear old dad. He chose not to repeat his father’s bad decision. His dad’s experience was instructive. In taking upon himself the duties of the priests which were forbidden to him, he lived the rest of his life in isolation when he developed a skin disease due to his disobedience. 

Experience is not the best teacher. Evaluated experience is. Jotham made the right evaluation and took the right course of action. 

Uzzie was a good king. His son was at least one step better than dear old dad. 

What do these two kings’ lives teach us? Good decisions produce good results. Good lives compound with good strengths. 

Take the right lead actions today. Do the right thing the right way for the right reason in the right timing. Do the right thing no matter how hard it seems at the time. When you begin to think you can do no wrong, remember Uzzie. His one big wrong decision landed him in isolation for the rest of his days. 

Sin is a separator. Righteousness is a uniter.

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I will live my best life by doing the right thing the right way for the right reason in the right timing. 

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Our Father, thank you for showing us what not to do and what to do instead in these two significant chapters. Thank you for these living testimonies regarding choices and their consequences. Empower us to take the right lead measures in all things at all times. Amen.