The Intersection

Readings for today: 1 Kings 10-11, 2 Chronicles 9, Proverbs 30-31

We are running an event at my church called “Finishing Strong.” It’s designed to equip believers who are 55+ to finish well in life and in faith. To use the latter years of their life to invest in the Kingdom of God. So many in my country spend their whole lives trying to retire early. There’s nothing wrong with this goal except that so many struggle to find purpose in their retirement. There’s only so much golf one can play. There’s only so many trips one can take. Eventually boredom sets in. Retirement, in this sense, is not biblical. Yes, the elders in Scripture handed over their businesses to their children at a certain point and took their seat at the city gate but it wasn’t to spend their days gossiping and drinking wine. They played a vital role in the ongoing health and welfare of their community. They were a source of great wisdom to the generations that followed them. They offered advice on any manner of things. They continued to invest in those who came after them. In fact, the worst thing you could do to a community in those days was rob them of their elders.

“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) Solomon failed to finish strong. He refused to listen to godly counsel and his kingdom began to fall apart in the latter part of his reign. Enemies began to circle him. Enemies from without and enemies from within. Rather than repent and return to the Lord, Solomon doubled down. The seeds were sown for a civil war that would result in great loss of life and the division of the kingdom. It’s a heartbreaking legacy and a sober reminder to us all. We never get too old to follow God. We never age out of discipleship. Our latter years are just as important as our younger years and the Lord pays attention to how we spend them.

It’s never too early to begin considering how you will spend the final decades of your life. Perhaps you are on a trajectory to retire early. My brother just retired from teaching at age 50. If he remains in good health, he will probably have another 30-40 years left of life. He and I recently talked about how he would spend those years. Where can he find meaning and purpose? Where can he invest himself? As a pastor, I’ve had hundreds of these conversations over the years. It’s striking to me how many people retire without a plan. Not necessarily a financial plan. Most have those if they are choosing to opt out of the workforce. No, I’m talking about a plan for where they will invest their time and energy and talent. A plan to find meaning and purpose and pour into the next generation. As Solomon’s example demonstrates, it’s easy to become distracted. It’s easy to find your heart turning towards other gods. It’s easy to waste the final years of your life. What plan are you making right now to finish strong?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10

Readings for today: 1 Kings 11-13, Psalms 97

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)