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Everything counts

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Last week, I wrote about Solomon’s request for wisdom and how that was pleasing to God. But reading more closely, God promised He would always be with Solomon, bless him and the people of Israel, IF they followed His decrees, obeyed His laws, and kept all His commands. (1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 6:12, 1 Kings 9:6)

Maybe it was because of his youthful inexperience (it is estimated he was about 20 years old when he became king), or maybe his fame and wealth made his ego swell, leading him to think his success was the fruit of his own labor. But as life went along, Solomon broke many of God’s laws. When Solomon drifted from God’s commands, he did so in a big way.

Here are a few from a long list:

Deut. 7:1-2 - When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, he will drive out many nations before you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations who are more numerous and stronger than you....

• 1 Kings 9:20 - As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel... Solomon forced them into slave labor. [instead of eliminating them from the land].

Deut. 17:16 – The king must not acquire a great number of horses for himself.

• 1 Kings 10:26 – Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses.

Deut. 17:16 – The king must not make the people return to Egypt to get more horses

• 1 Kings 10:28 – Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt.

Deut. 17:17 – He must not take many wives...

•  1 Kings 11:3 – Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Deut. 17:17 - ...or his heart will be lead astray.

• 1 Kings 11:4-7 – Solomon’s wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek, the detestable god of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord...he built a high place for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab and for Molek, the detestable god of the Ammonites.

Deut. 7:3 - You are not to intermarry with them. You are not to give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons

• 1 Kings 11: 1-2 - Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the LORD said to the children of Israel, "You shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love.

Unfortunately, modern-day believers in God have fallen prey to the same sins: sex, power, greed, fame, and opulent wealth. For example, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, built a commercial empire around television evangelism only to see it collapse in sex and money scandals. In 2019, USA Today chronicled 10 televangelists who became embroiled in financial, political, and social controversies, in one way or another.

I’m sure there is also a long list of secular personalities that could be part of this list, those who went from stellar fame, wealth, and popularity to being bankrupt and broken: movie stars, business stars, vocalists, TV personalities, and athletes.

This shows, as King Solomon most likely penned this himself,

“Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecc 1:9)

Your gifts

What does it mean to squander the gifts and blessings God has given you? When God wove you together in your mother’s womb, and when He made you new in Christ, He planned special experiences, abilities, and talents specifically and only for you.

What particular abilities has God given you? It doesn’t have to be on a stage or on any public platform. It may be your ability to listen, care, and share the Word. It may be how you are disciplining and raising your children. It may be the loving way you speak to your spouse or your ailing parents/in-laws.

Are you squandering the miraculous and personal gifts God has given you because you wish you had a different, “more important”, gift or talent?

Think back over history. All the things big and small that people have done. Consider these:  

• Huge businesses have been created (ex: in modern history, Amazon, Nike, Microsoft; Remember Eastman Kodak, Polaroid, and Swift & Co.?) Who were the founders? the presidents?

• Review the hundreds of sprawling castles around the world built over many years with hard labor, then occupied, deserted, and fallen into rubble. Who were the rulers? the workers?

• What about the endless US, Asian, and European museums full of artifacts? Who were the artists? Who were their subjects? When they died, what happened to their prominence?

• Who won the Superbowl ten years ago? Who was the quarterback? The MVP?

• What was the best film three years ago? Who won the Grammy Awards last year?

How few of the many, many billions who have walked this planet are “remembered”? Very, very few. So why are we here? what matters?

Solomon was the wealthiest and wisest person of his time. Maybe ever. But instead of giving God his gratitude, his ego apparently got the best of him. In the book of Proverbs, either Solomon, or another wise man of the time, wrote:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.  It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:4-8)

We may not be the richest, the smartest, the most visible, most athletic, most talented. We’re supposed to assess our God-given talents and for blessing and supporting the body of Christ. You’re good at what you’re good at because needs that, in some way, shape, or form — because God’s kingdom needs you.

Whatever you do, work heartily, for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

Today’s Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing each person reading this post today. We are each part of Your family and You have given each of us skills and talents that we are to use for building Your Kingdom. May the Holy Spirit move us to appreciation for all that we are capable of doing and doing for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.