Disastrous consequences of redirecting our sights.

I'm spending a couple of days with Mother and Dad here in Winona Lake, IN, and, as is their daily routine, we had breakfast and immediately brought the Bibles to the table. They are reading through the Bible about two chapters a day (used to be 3 or 4, but Dad can't keep up now), and today we were in II Kings 16 and 17.
Lately it has been my experience that I have seen many things that are out of line both in my life and in church situations, but it never came home to me like this morning.
The kings of Judah and Israel were generally a bad lot (with only two exceptions). We know this because the Lord tells us so and the statement is something like this: "Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God" and then there is a description of the areas in which this particular king departed from the right path. So it was with Ahaz. Though he was king of Judah, he "walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and even sacrificed his son in the fire" thus going one step further than they in his apostasy. Others had not destroyed the asherah poles, and the high places, now he was worshipping at them. He did this in imitation of the worship of the people that the Lord had driven out before the people of Israel.
He seemed to find every place to be a good place for worship of the canaanite gods.
Now the attacks come from the outside in the form of Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel. God was at the ready to save Ahaz and Judah from this invasion, but Ahaz had his head turned in the wrong direction. Instead, he looked to Tiglath Pilezer, king of Assyria. Bad mistake! You see, God had the answer, but Ahaz was not in tune with God's radio station! He sent a message to Tiglath Pilezer. He reminded him of the fact that he (Ahaz) was a taxpayer, and under the terms of the Middle East Taxpayers Protection Act he needed protection NOW! Money was not an object, for Ahaz had at his disposition a number of silver and gold plates, bowls, etc. which he sent along as his contribution for the 'favor' of his protection. So Tiglath Pilezer obliged by attacking and conquering Damascus. Ahaz met him there, and they took a look at the city. Ahaz' eyes were drawn to an altar which was there, and he found out that he could get the blueprints for it. It was so much more modern and up-to-date than the old altar in Jerusalem! Why, if we had an altar like this, we would certainly have a better attendance at the House of the Lord!! So he sent a blueprint to Uriah the priest, who immediately put his workmen to the job of a Temple remodelling project. By the time Ahaz got home, the project was completed. Oh how much nicer the temple and its equipment looked. It was even equipped with a back-up altar (the original) in case this one should happen not to work sometime, such as, when I really need God.!! So Ahaz went ahead and presented a sacrifice on the new and improved altar (a NoNo which caused Saul to lose his kingship, for the priest was the one that was supposed to officiate at the offerings).
The final touches in the remodelling project struck me as horribly reminiscent of churchianity today. The small wash basins were on movable stands. This is just a temporary thing. Why not make a permanent base, so that the Temple will look more stable and not just a fly by night outfit? The large washing tub which was supported by a set of cast bronze bulls now became permanent on a stone base. The Sabbath canopy, a religious symbol of the day of rest, together with the royal entryway, not to be used by just anybody, was removed. Interestingly, these actions were taken "in deference to the king of Assyria." Without a doubt that was brought about, at the very least, by a passing comment by Tiglath-Pilezer to the effect that such "exclusiveness" offended him.
Ahaz, as so many others since then, changed direction in the area of management. God was meant to be the regent and manager of His People, Israel. But instead, Ahaz took his problems to Tiglath-Pilezer, whose only interest in him was the fact that he, too, felt threatened by Rezin and Pekah.
He changed direction in his view of money. God's perspective on money is that it is to be used to honor Him and to help others. But Ahaz used money to buy help and show subservience to Assyria.
He changed direction in his view of ministry. After seeing the altar in Damascus, Ahaz must have thought "There's no way we can compete with this with our li'l ole portable altar" and "the Temple is getting somewhat rundown--I'm sure there are believing Israelites who are ashamed to worship in such dingy surroundings. We need to remodel--besides, it will be much more acceptable to Tiglath-Pilezer."
I got to thinking... When I am in a tight squeeze, do I go to God for help, or do I bring it to a friend, a banker, a doctor who will be glad to take $2-300 from me without necessarily helping at all. Do I see spreading money around as the solution to my problems and those of my church, missions, family life, etc. Is it easier for me to buy "rice Christians" than to tell others of salvation in Jesus Christ?
Am I a devotee of "architectural evangelism". I like things nice, don't I? I actually heard one gentleman speak of church building design as his contribution to "architectural evangelism"
Am I substituting physical food for spiritual food?

Just some thoughts...