Proverbs 4:27
Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.
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King Solomon, the son and successor of King David his father, wrote those words of wisdom so long ago. Jesus would later tell us much the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount saying that we have to walk the straight and narrow path. {Mat.7:13-14} But unfortunately, Solomon himself did not live those words—with tragic consequences!
When God had spoken to him in a dream telling him to request whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for a discerning heart so he would be able to rule the people of God well. {1Ki.3:9} He was then given wisdom that would become legendary throughout the world! A fact that makes it such a horror that he would later write, 'Why then have I been extremely wise?' {Ecc.2:15} He forgot why the Lord had given him wisdom!
Jesus taught His disciples that their ministry was, like His—and ours—to serve and not to be served! {Mat.20:25-28} Solomon got the wisdom, but he did not get the message! He said, as it is documented in the second chapter of Ecclesiastes:
'I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. Also, I collected for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.” (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8)
The apostle Paul had written that whatever we do, we are to do as for the Lord. {Col.3:23:} It was fallen human nature that led Solomon to do everything, as he said over and over, ‘for myself’. That should certainly challenge us to consider whatever we are doing and think about who we are doing it for. Is it for ourselves or for our Lord? King Solomon thought that the kingdom of God he had been called to serve was his kingdom. And he was wrong!
We all need to follow the command of the Word and examine ourselves {2Cor.13:5} because every believer, each one of us, has been entrusted with a gift, a ministry, to serve the Lord and His body. {1Cor.12:7,11} It all belongs to Him.
Lord Acton, an English writer, historian and politician in the 1800's, famously wrote that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Great men in the natural are almost always ‘bad men’. Because of all he did God was angry with Solomon—his heart had turned away from the Lord. {1Kin.11:9} So, given that example, we need to be on guard, and as instructed:
“Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
(Ephesians 6:11-13)
COUNT IT ALL JOY MY BRETHREN |
