Whenever reformation or revival comes, there comes rebellion and wrath along with it. Not everyone who claims to work for God is doing so from a pure heart. Many only do so because they perceive God’s power and want a piece of the blessings. In ministry, their should always be a sound understanding that God’s dividends often have no earthly value. Indeed, they often have a negative earthly value. We can always tell an imposter by their eagerness to receive earthly blessings. Likewise, we can tell buy the bitterness, selfish ambition, envy and dissension that is caused when theses things are specifically held from them. For fifteen years the work of the Lord was impeded by these false friends. But at least it stayed pure and strong. Imagine the negative effect that could happen from allowing these false friends into the work. Imagine how much longer the engrained toxicity of demonic wisdom would have stained the temple. We cannot partner with such demonic wisdom. Solomon’s temple was ultimately destroyed because of these false partnerships that he brought into Israel through his marriages to idol worshippers. Perceiving them to be good relationally and politically, he allowed the spiritual toxicity that would eventually warrant the Jewish exile from which Ezra now returns. We must be discerning and wait on the Lord’s timing and his blessings instead of trying to make our own way, even if it seems wise to the world at large.