2 Chronicles 33:1

2 Chronicles 33:1 says, Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:  After Hezekiah died, Manasseh his son, who was only twelve years old, became king.  He was likely easily influence at this age, but he still should have been grounded in God's word.  He had a long reign that lasted fifty-five years.  Verse two adds, But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  Unfortunately, Manasseh didn't follow the example of his father and serve God, instead he followed the ways of the heathen and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  We may be devoted Christians and do our best to raise our children to follow Jesus Christ, but we cannot force them to.  They have to make that decision for themselves.  Verse three continues, For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.  Manasseh began to rebuild the places to worship false gods and built altars to Baalim.  He worshipped the host of heaven, or the stars I believe, as well.  He was undoing all the good works for God that Hezekiah his father had done.  The next generation may turn away from God, even if they have been raised by Christian parents and start trying to tear down things set aside for God and begin worshipping false gods.  That is why it is so important that we reach them with the gospel.  Verse four states, Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.  Manasseh also built altars to false gods in God's house.  God had said that His name would be proclaimed in the temple in Jerusalem forever as the only God, and even if the people then or the people now don't do so, He is still the only God of Jerusalem or anywhere else.  Verse five adds, And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.  He built altars to the stars in the courts of the Temple, the house of God.  We need to make sure that we don't bring false teachings into the church building as we gather to worship, and more importantly, as Christians we need to make sure we don't allow them into our lives, since our bodies are to be a temple for God.  Verse six continues, And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.  He began to sacrifice children to these false gods and practiced witchcraft.   He got about as far away from God as anyone could.  We should not be surprised if those who are not followers of Jesus Christ proclaim many different things to be what guide them.  Verse seven states, And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.  He also built an idol in the Temple, where God had told David and Solomon, who were responsible for the building of the Temple as a house of God, that He would put His name forever.  God also said He had chosen the people of Israel to work through to reach the world with His word.  That responsibility is now the responsibility of Christians and whether people believe it or not, God is still the only God.  Verse eight adds, Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.  God said He would never cut Israel off from the land He had given them as long as they lived by His commandments and law.  I believe this promise now applies to Christians and God's eternal spiritual kingdom.  Verse nine continues, So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.  We are told that Manasseh made the people of Judah sin, but he could only influence them to do so. Whether we sin or not is always our individual choice, even if those in power declare that we must worship false gods.  Verse ten concludes, And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.  God was still speaking to Manasseh and the people of Judah, but they would not listen.  God is still speaking to people today offering them His gift of salvation, but too many still will not listen.  As followers of Christ, He also speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and His written word, and at times we do not listen either, but we need to pray that we always will.

2 Chronicles 32:24

 2 Chronicles 32:24 says, In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.  Hezekiah became deathly sick at this time, prayed to God, and God gave him a sign, or let Hezekiah know that He heard His prayer.  The sign was the sun moving backwards by ten degrees, which is recorded in 2 Kings 20.  We may not have a dramatic sign that God has heard our prayers, but we still must have faith that He has and be willing to accept the answer.  Not everyone who prays for healing from physical illness is healed, but if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ and pray for spiritual healing we will always be healed.  Verse twenty-five adds, But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.  When he recovered, Hezekiah became full of self-pride instead of giving God the glory, and this led to God's wrath coming on him and all of Judah and Jerusalem.  Matthew Henry says that God left Hezekiah free to sin though He could have stopped him from sinning.  This is always the case.  Though God could prevent us from sinning, we must do so on our own and realize that we have sinned when we do and come to Jesus Christ by faith to find forgiveness.  Verse twenty-six continues, Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.  Hezekiah at least realized his sin, his acting out of self-pride, as did the rest of the people of Jerusalem, and they humbled themselves before God once again and He forgave them.  As followers of Christ, we need to realize when we are acting under the guidance of anything other than the Holy Spirit, and if we realize that we are, we need to repent and ask God's forgiveness.  Verse twenty-seven states, And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;  Hezekiah became very rich in material things and in honor from the world, but he should have made sure that the honor went to God and not himself.  As long as he put his faith in God, he was spiritually blessed, and so will we be when we do, and that is what matters.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.  Hezekiah was not only rich in silver, gold and precious jewels, he had an abundance of crops and animals.  We may faithfully serve God and still struggle materially, but we should not serve God for material reasons to start with.  If we are blessed materially, I believe we need to use what God has blessed us with for His glory and to do His work, and not for selfish purposes.  Verse twenty-nine continues, Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.  Hezekiah had many cities in his kingdom as well, because God had provided him with a great substance.  As Christians, we need to acknowledge that God is behind our blessings if they come as long as we are faithful to Him.  Still, it is possible that material blessings may come by acting outside of the will of God, and we never want that to happen in our life.  Verse thirty concludes, 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.  Hezekiah had changed the course of the water so that it flowed into Jerusalem to make sure they would always have plenty of water and also to cut the water supply off from their enemies.  Matthew Henry says this was during the Sennacherib's invasion of Judah.  We as Christians have an unlimited supply of the Living Water, and those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will always be cut off from it.  Verse thirty-one says, Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.  The people of Babylon sent ambassadors to inquire about the wonders they had seen.  Matthew Henry says this was the sun moving backwards, since they worshipped the sun god and may have been giving him the credit.  Lost people today who see a miracle will often want to give credit to anyone or anything other than God.  God left Hezekiah to decide how he would react to this praise, just a He will leave us to decide how we react to men's praise today because He has blessed us.  Verse thirty-two adds, Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.  In Hezekiah's case, we are told that the rest of his actions are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet and in the book of the kings of Judah.  Of course, the important thing was whether his name was written in the Lamb's book of life as is the case with everyone. Verse thirty-three continues, And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.  Though he had recovered from one deathly illness, Hezekiah still died and he was buried in one of the best spots in the tomb of the kings and all of Judah honored him in his death. People may honor us in death, but it really doesn't matter.  All that matters is our relationship with Jesus Christ.  All the honors of the world will do nothing for us spiritually.

2 Chronicles 32:20

2 Chronicles 32:20 says, And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.  Since Sennacherib was crying out that god was as helpless to stop him as the false gods had been, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed to the God of heaven.  People still claim that God is as powerless or at least even less powerful than other gods, but we as His people need to continue to pray to Him for strength and guidance, especially if we are under attack spiritually.  Verse twenty-one adds, And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.  God didn't send a multitude of angels, but He sent an angel who destroyed all the leaders of the Sennacherib's army.   Sennacherib then went home in shame and went to the house of his god, where he was killed by his children.  He found out firsthand that God was not like other gods, but it did him no good, because he still returned to his gods.  If people recognize the power of God today but still don't put their faith in Jesus Christ, it does them no good.  Verse twenty-two continues, Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.  The people of Jerusalem were not saved by their own power but by the power of God, and we cannot be saved spiritually by our own power, but only by the power of Jesus Christ over sin and death.  Verse twenty-three concludes, And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.  Many people brought gifts to Jerusalem for the Lord and presents for Hezekiah as well, and Hezekiah was magnified throughout the land.  Hezekiah had not brought them victory, but he had stood for the people before God and asked His help.  We cannot bring spiritual victory to anyone today, but we can bring them before God in prayer, and if they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they need to give God all the praise and so do we.  We cannot save anyone but can only present the gospel to them.

2 Chronicles 32:9

2 Chronicles 32:9 says, After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,  After Hezekiah had cut off the water supply to the troops of Sennacherib, he sent word to Hezekiah.  He still thought himself to be in the more powerful position.  Those who oppose God today often think they are in the more powerful position, but they are cut off from the Living Water and cannot survive spiritually.  Verse ten adds, Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?  Sennacherib asked Hezekiah who he put his faith in that he would oppose him and think he could survive the siege.  When the people of the world believe they are more powerful than God, they may ask Christians the same thing.  Verse eleven continues, Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?  Sennacherib also asked the people in Jerusalem if Hezekiah had persuaded them to die of thirst and famine in Jerusalem instead of just surrendering to him.  We may be asked today how we can put our faith in God when those who deny Him are in power and more numerous than us.  Verse twelve states, Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?  Sennacherib then appealed to them on a religious basis, asking if Hezekiah had not taken away many places where they used to worship and by implication the gods that they worshipped.  There are still people today who accuse Christians of being narrow minded because they insist that there is only one God and that He cannot be worshipped in the same places where other gods are worshipped along with worshipping those other gods.  Verse thirteen adds, Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?  Sennacherib then began to brag about the power of the Assyrians, asking the people in Judah if they had not heard what the Assyrians had done to other people.  It may be that those in power become boastful and ask us as followers of Christ if we have not heard of their power if we oppose their gods, but they need to know that we will never turn away from the one true God, no matter what.  Verse fourteen continues, Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?  Sennacherib then compared God to all the other gods of the people that Assyria had defeated.  People may defeat those who follow other gods, but for the to compare these false gods to the one true God will lead to their downfall one day, and we as Christians cannot begin to think that they are more powerful than our God.  Verse fifteen says, Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?  Sennacherib then told them to not be confused by Hezekiah's words and stated that there never had been a god who could deliver them.  He made the mistake of trying to compare the God of Judah with other gods, and peoople still make that mistake today and may ask how we can put our faith in Him and those who follow Him.  Verse sixteen adds, And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.  Sennacherib's servants then began to speak against God and Hezekiah, who was referred to as God's servant.  Many people, and not just those in power, may question how we can serve God today and imply that He cannot save us, but we can never doubt Him and be successful spiritually.  Verse seventeen continues, He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.  Sennacherib then said that just as other gods had failed to deliver those who had followed them from the Assyrians, neither would God be able to deliver the people in Jerusalem.  Verse eighteen states, Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.  The people of Assyria then begin to cry out against the people of Jerusalem in their own language in order to try to frighten them.  The lost people of the world today will often attempt to bring fear into the lives of Christians by claiming their power and the lack of power on the part of God. Verse nineteen adds, And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.  They then spoke against God as if He were just another god made by hand.  People often try to convince us that God is just like other false gods and powerless to save us, but His victory has already been established as well as ours if we put our faith in Him.

2 Chronicles 32:1

2 Chronicles 32:1 says, After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.  After the people of Judah began to follow God's commandments and started to worship Him again, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria invaded Judah.  Matthew Henry says his predecessor had already carried the ten tribes of Israel away captive.  This happened because they had turned away from God.  We might think that since Judah was again following God that they would have been at peace in the world, but that wasn't the case.  We may be devoted to following God and follow His commandments but still find that we are not safe from conflict with the world. Verse two adds, And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,  When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invade Judah and was planning a fight against Jerusalem.  He was aware of the coming war, and we need to be aware of the war that we are going to face in the world as Christians.  Verse three continues, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.  Hezekiah didn't just rely on his own abilities, but took counsel from his princes as well and they decided to cut off the water flow that the Assyrians would need to stay strong.  I believe that they did this by God's guidance.  We need to look to other Christians in our times of distress, and we also need to be there for others in their time of distress, and we need to do everything we do under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four states, So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?  Many people gathered to stop the water, and we as Christians need all be at work in fighting against the forces of evil.  Of course, those who don't put their faith in Jesus Christ are already cut off from the Living Water.   Verse five adds, Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.  Hezekiah not only cut off the water that the Assyrians would need, but he also rebuilt the wall that was broken and raised up towers.  He also had another wall built outside of Jerusalem and repaired Millo, which was referred to as being in the city of David.  He also armed the people.  We need to rebuild the walls of protection that God had given us as Christians if we have allowed them to be torn down, and we need to arm ourselves with the armor of God.  Verse six continues, And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,  He then organized the defenders and spoke comfortably to them.  We need to be organized as Christians today to effectively spread the gospel and to help one another in remining true to God, and we need not act out of panic or fear.  God has already secured the victory.  Verse seven says, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:  Hezekiah then called for the people to not be afraid or dismayed and said there were more of the people of Judah than there were of the Assyrians who were attacking them, but it really wasn't their number that was important, but their obedience to God that would make the difference.  I believe that there are more people who stand against God in the world than there are that stand with Him, but we don't need to be afraid or dismayed as long as we are being obedient to God.  Verse eight adds, With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.  Hezekiah then said what we as followers of Christ should always believe, and that is that the people who oppose us rely on the power of the world, but we rely on the power of God.  The people of Judah then rested on the words that Hezikiah had said.  We need not be afraid today if we rely on the power of God to keep us spiritually safe forever and then we can rest on His word.

2 Chronicles 31:11

 2 Chronicles 31:11 says, Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord; and they prepared them,  The Levites continued to restore the house of God, next preparing the chambers at the king's command.  We need to always be preparing our hearts to do the work of God and to make room for the leadership if the Holy Spirit in our lives, and he will guide us to what we need to do for Him.  Verse twelve adds, And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.  Then they brought the tithes and dedicated things into the temple, God's house.  We need to be just as faithful in bringing our tithes and offerings into the church today, even if the building is not now considered the only place where God can be found.  Two particular Levites, Cononiah and his brother Shimei were in charge of the tithes and offerings, and we need trustworthy people to be in charge of our tithes and offerings today.  Verse thirteen continues, And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.  Several others were also in charge of the tithes and offerings under the supervision of Cononiah and Shimei by the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah who was over the temple.  We all as Christians need to ensure that our tithes and offerings are being used in accordance with the command of Jesus Christ, who is both our King and High Priest.  Verse fourteen states, And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord, and the most holy things.  There was a further assignment for maintaining the freewill offerings as well.  We need to maintain control over all the offerings that are brought to God today in order to ensure that they are used properly for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom.  Verse fifteen adds, And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:  There were priests appointed in every city to take care of these tithes and offerings as well.  We collectively as the church, all the people of God, and as individual congregations need to make sure that we are following God's guidance in using His tithes and offerings.  Verse sixteen continues, Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the Lord, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;  All those who were born into the families of the nation of Judah who were males three years old or older were to be allowed into the temple and allowed to participate in the worship service.  Today, all who are a part of the family of God should be welcomed into the church regardless of their age and we as followers of Christ should do our best to make sure that their needs are met.  Of course, everyone should be welcomed into the worship service, whether they are a Christian or not, and those who aren't should be welcomed even more so, but they shouldn't be in charge of the service.  Verse seventeen says, Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;  Then, those born into the priesthood who were twenty years old or older were to take their role in the worship service and to care for the things of God.  We as Christians today are not so by our birth but by our rebirth through accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and then the Holy Spirit will give us our calling in serving God.  Verse eighteen adds,  And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:  Their families were then sanctified to the service of God, and we need to do our best to sanctify ourselves to God's service and also to do all that we can to bring our families to Jesus Christ.  Verse nineteen continues, Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.  The sons of Aaron would have been his descendants and those in all the cities as well as those born into the family of Levy were to be provided for as they did their duty to the people in the worshipping of God.  God does not leave anyone out in providing for their needs if they are serving Him in accordance with the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Of course, He will work through His people to ensure this is true, if we are willing to give under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty states, And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.  Hezekiah had this done throughout Judah to ensure that the people did what was good and right before God.  We cannot ensure that every Christian is going to do what is good and right before God, and we certainly cannot force anyone to do so, but we can proclaim God's truth to them and make sure that we individually are doing His will in our life.  Verse twenty-one adds, 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.  Everything that Hezekiah proposed to do in His heart to restore the worship of God he did with all his heart, and he prospered.  We need to serve and worship God with all our heart, and if we do, we will prosper spiritually.  Whether we prosper materially or not should not matter, as long as we are doing what God has called us to do.

2 Chronicles 31:6

2 Chronicles 31:6 says, And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps.  Those people of Israel, God's chosen people as a whole, who lived in Judah brought the holy things consecrated to God and laid them up by heaps.  Not all of His people were doing this, since those who were part of the other part of the divided kingdom, Israel, did not become involved.  As Christians, we are all part of the same family of God and we need to be united in obeying His commandments and doing His work.  Still, if some who call themselves Christians are allowing false teachings into their worship services, we need to separate ourselves from them and pray that they will begin to follow God's commandments once again.  Verse seven adds, In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.  For four months, they worked laying the foundation of the heaps.  Matthew Henry says they had not been making these heaps to hoard them but to show how much God had blessed them by having this much left over.  We don't need to hoard the things that God blesses us with but need to use them to do His work, and if we do, He will always abundantly bless us.  Verse eight continues, And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord, and his people Israel.  When the king and the princes saw these heaps of the tithes, it says they blessed God and His people.  I believe this would more accurately be that they praised God, because He blessed them and not the other way around, and the same is true today.  Verse nine states, Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.  Though I have already discussed what the heaps were, it was in this verse that Hezekiah questioned the Levites about them, after he had already praised God for them.  If we see that God is richly blessing the church today, especially our local congregation, maybe we need to ask why He is doing so and what He wants us to do with the things He has blessed us with, and not just hoard them unused.  The same applies to individual Christians, I believe.  Verse ten adds, And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.  Azariah the chief priest told Hezekiah that since the people had started bringing their offerings to God, they had all their needs met and this was what was left over, as already stated earlier.  As followers of Christ, if we all begin to bring our tithes and offerings to God, I believe all our needs will still be met and the church will have an abundance to do what we need to do collectively.  I also believe we should do this with rejoicing and not with complaining.