Articles
"It Is Too Much"
The kingdom of Israel divided after Solomon’s death. Solomon’s son Rehoboam ruled over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and Jeroboam became king over the remainder of Israel.
"Jeroboam said in his heart, 'Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.' So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, 'It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt'" (1 Kings 12:26-28).
Jeroboam told Israel that God requires too much. That devilish notion remains to our day.
Jesus plainly said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16a). Yet the vast majority of modern preachers say we are saved before and apart from baptism; to make baptism a condition of salvation is to require too much!
The Lord adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47). Some want salvation, but they want no part of any church. To them, that is too much!
Jesus instructed His disciples to assemble on the first day of the week to remember His death, worship God, and encourage one another (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25). Evidently, setting aside just a few hours a week for the Lord on a regular basis is asking too much for some church members.
The first day of the week also calls for giving in proportion to our prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:2). While no percentage is specified, some seem to think that anything beyond a token few dollars is too much.
Some think the Lord asks too much at home, as well. When questioned about the lawfulness of divorce, Jesus responded, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6b). He then added, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (v. 9, ESV). Earlier He taught, “Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32b). To increasing numbers of people, living with your spouse for a lifetime or foregoing remarriage following a divorce is asking way too much!
Ancient Israel welcomed Jeroboam’s less demanding provisions. God did not. “Now this thing became a sin . . .” (1 Kings 12:30). Do not be deceived.
