1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9, 1 Timothy 6
Solomon's wisdom was manifested in his extensive knowledge across various fields of life, which greatly impressed the Queen of Sheba. His broad understanding and immense wealth, largely the result of his father David's legacy, made Solomon highly renowned and respected among many nations.
Unfortunately, Solomon experienced what often happens to those who achieve great success: success leads to self-confidence, and immense success leads to great self-confidence. Engrossed in comfort, wealth, and fame, Solomon reached a point where wisdom and wealth were insufficient. He sought satisfaction in exotic women: "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites." (1 Kings 11:1) Solomon forgot that God had explicitly forbidden this: "They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.' Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love." (1 Kings 11:2).
To please these women, Solomon built shrines for their idols and eventually began worshipping them himself. As a result, God declared that the kingdom would be taken away from him.
It is likely that at the very end of his life, Solomon returned to true worship of God (this is perhaps why 2 Chronicles does not mention his apostasy) and wrote the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. In both books, he emphasizes that wisdom without the fear of God is futile.
Rather than material wealth or even social status, Godliness should be the source of our contentment. When people see the source of their joy in material things, they inevitably fall "into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:9).
We must flee from this, focusing on "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11) while awaiting the appearance of Christ (1 Timothy 6:14-16).
For those whom the Lord blesses with material wealth, they must learn to trust not in wealth but in the living God, who is the trustworthy source of our enjoyment: "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:18-19).
Unfortunately, Solomon experienced what often happens to those who achieve great success: success leads to self-confidence, and immense success leads to great self-confidence. Engrossed in comfort, wealth, and fame, Solomon reached a point where wisdom and wealth were insufficient. He sought satisfaction in exotic women: "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites." (1 Kings 11:1) Solomon forgot that God had explicitly forbidden this: "They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.' Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love." (1 Kings 11:2).
To please these women, Solomon built shrines for their idols and eventually began worshipping them himself. As a result, God declared that the kingdom would be taken away from him.
It is likely that at the very end of his life, Solomon returned to true worship of God (this is perhaps why 2 Chronicles does not mention his apostasy) and wrote the books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. In both books, he emphasizes that wisdom without the fear of God is futile.
Rather than material wealth or even social status, Godliness should be the source of our contentment. When people see the source of their joy in material things, they inevitably fall "into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:9).
We must flee from this, focusing on "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11) while awaiting the appearance of Christ (1 Timothy 6:14-16).
For those whom the Lord blesses with material wealth, they must learn to trust not in wealth but in the living God, who is the trustworthy source of our enjoyment: "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:18-19).
Posted in Reading Bible Together