2Ki 12:2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

When the wicked Athaliah killed all the males who could ascend to the throne, one escaped her massacre. Joash was an infant when he was saved by her aunt Jehosheba (2 Kings 11:1, 2). Together with her husband Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 22:11), Jehosheba raised up Joash in the temple. Jehoiada was the high priest at that time. We see that Joash had a good mentor in Jehoiada. From that pious man, Joash received a pious education. Jehoiada would instil into the mind of this young king the principles of true godliness. Under the watchful eyes of Jehoiada, Joash maintained a life of uprightness in the sight of God. He was remembered for repairing the temple of God (v.4-12). Indeed, to have an early training of this kind is an enormous advantage: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Unfortunately, though he had an early training in godliness, he kept it only when Jehoiada was with him to guide him. Something was lacking in that training for we learn that upon the death of Jehoiada, Joash listened to the counsel of the wicked princes and began to serve idols (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). What caused the change in Joash? Why did he forget his early training? I believe the problems are two. First, there is a problem with the training method. Joash was only seven years old when he became king. Probably in the eyes of Jehoiada, Joash was always that cute little boy and so he must take good care of him. Well, he did not bring up a man; he raised up a boy. It is a lesson for all of us who are mentoring a younger generation – DON’T DO EVERYTHING FOR THEM! The way to train a younger generation is to let them DO. Give them opportunities to lead, organise, and teach. We learned by doing and so must they. Let them make mistakes while we are around to correct them. Let them teach and preach while we are around to listen to see they are teaching the truth. When we are no longer around, who is there to correct them? Churches died when only the old preachers occupy the throne of the pulpit. They did all the preaching, teaching and organising. They did not let the men do anything. The men grow up not able to handle rightly the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Churches died when the old preachers died. The second problem is with Joash’s character. Joash was weak. His strength came from Jehoiada. Jehoiada did everything for him! He was totally in reliance of Jehoiada. He lacked independence and firmness of will. While Jehoiada lived, he allowed himself to be led by him; and when this good priest and counsellor died, he began to lean to the noble princes and allow himself as readily to be turned into evil courses by the wicked nobles. He could not differentiate truth and error. The saddest part in growing up is to fail to grow up. I’m referring to maturity. Some people never mature in their lives. The apostle Paul told the Christians at Corinth: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). “Quit you like men” means “show yourself a man”. Be not like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Be not like babes that can only drink milk (Hebrews 5:12-14). Young men and women, I pray you are not acting faithful because “Jehoiada” is around you. I pray you have matured under the tutorship of “Jehoiada” and have a faith which is your own to stand up against the wiles of the devil. May your faith abound more and more each day.