Readings for today: 1 Kings 11-13, Psalms 97
“When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.” (1 Kings 11:4 CSB)
A long obedience in the same direction. That’s how the late pastor and author and scholar, Eugene Peterson, once described the Christian life. It’s a path we choose to walk in this life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t translate into perfection. It doesn’t mean we will stop sinning. It doesn’t mean we will never put a foot out of line or wander down some rabbit trail. It simply means that on balance, we set the course of our lives towards one goal. One destination. One finish line and that is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
As we read the Bible, we see so many start well but eventually fall. We see them raised up by God only to fall into sin later in their lives. We’ve seen it over and over again in the lives of Aaron and Miriam and Gideon and Samson and David and many others. We see it in Rehoboam and Jeroboam who both come after Solomon. We’ll see it in the lives of several kings over the next few weeks. The message is clear. It’s hard to finish strong. It’s hard to remain faithful. It’s hard to keep walking in obedience over the long haul in the same direction.
Solomon became distracted. He married hundreds of women in an attempt to build alliances with the nations around him and pacify the region. He was largely successful but he also became distracted from his most important calling as a king. He was to remain faithful to God and serve God’s people. Rehoboam grew up watching his father. He saw his dad enslave entire people groups. Build incredible cities. Amass great wealth and power. He wanted to do the same. In fact, like any spoiled child, he felt he was entitled to it. So he decided to become even more of a tyrant than his father. He too forgot his most important calling which was to remain faithful to God and serve God‘s people. Jeroboam was anointed by God to be king after Solomon. He was literally given the vast majority of the nation of Israel. Ten tribes would go with him when he split the kingdom. But he became afraid. What would happen when they went back to the Temple in Jerusalem? Would they abandon him? Would they return to the line of David? Out of fear, he commits idolatry and sets up his own priestly system complete with its own sacrifices and shrines and temples and idols. He forgot his most calling which was to remain faithful to God and serve God’s people.
One of my most frequent prayers is to finish strong. I want to finish my life and my ministry in faithfulness. I don’t want there to be even a hint of scandal. I don’t want anyone to ever say Doug fell at the end. Started serving himself. Started drifting from his most important calling. Started loving other things more than he loved God. I’ve been blessed in my life with tremendous opportunities and tremendous resources and an incredible family and an amazing church to serve but I don’t ever want to take these things for granted. So I ask God with regularity to keep me humble. Keep me in my place. Help me to always have a heart to serve rather than be served and seek first His Kingdom above all. What about you?
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 14-16, Psalms 98 (No devotionals on Sundays)