No one has had as much privilege.
II Chronicles 9:22 Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in both riches and wisdom. Then, what happened to him, if he was wise? How could he not see the folly. We sin with our heart. It's relational sin. Isn't it what lies beneath that behavior?
Solomon reigned 40 years in peace. Not a warrior like his father. Personal peace and affluence---it's what most of our world seeks, isn't it? But, there is a Higher Goal---God Himself.
The Queen of Sheeba came to see for herself . . . she took great pains to attend to great wisdom . . . and she found no flaw. But there is one in all of us. Even Solomon. But his evil had a bottom and he would repent, unlike Saul. And who did he leave all that wealth to? Not someone of stature. Will I amass this day, this season, a life lived fully present for God and others. Or, will I demand to be appreciated, secure, validated, cared for, personal peace and affluence.
We may not have what we want or be where we are, but we have this moment to grab hold of. Fall forward. Move in faith.
"Hate the pain in my life, but
Love the hope I have." L.Crabb
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Whatever it is we are facing this day,
Rejection, Distance, Ridicule, Disdain,
Would you, O God, show us why our soul is downcast?
Why so disturbed?
May we all put our Hope in You
Psalm 42:5
OVERVIEW: II Chronicles 9-12
Solomon had everything, it seemed. But he wrote in Ecclesiastes, ""Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (NIV) He knew the vanity of having much, the false sense of satisfaction, the fleeting feeling of having "arrived."
ReplyDeleteThe grandeur of Solomon's acquisitions and his wisdom were told far and wide, and many sought his presence, just to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. And by all accounts, Solomon was lonely and bitter and stumbles. And in one generation, his son loses all that he'd worked hard to build and establish.
We've had much and we've had little. It's unsettling and hard to trust who your friends are when you have things the world admires. But it's a sweet reality to know who cares when you have little to offer them except yourself.
A couple of things strike me as life lessons today.
1. All that shiny stuff is little more than encumbrances.
2. There is kingdom wealth and then there is Kingdom Wealth. Invest in the latter.
3. Spend time building up your children in the Lord, teaching them God's ways and the importance of solid family. For therein lies your legacy. The next generation depends on it.
4. We're only one generation away from Godlessness, but for God's preservation of the Remnant.
Hope you Pearls all had a good Mother's Day. We're painting and packing for the move to the ranch. It is a tough thing to leave 30 years of memories, but freeing to know the memories are in my heart, not my house.
Love this.
DeleteLike that you used the word encumbrances. I'll remember that one. Funny how words sink deep.
He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord - As a believer, do I intentionally set my heart to seek the Lord daily or do I operate on auto pilot occasionally. I want to set my heart on Him intentionally every day.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your timely comments, Pearls! Holidays are so tough for me, especially Mother's Day. I felt like running away yesterday, from myself, and all my problems. Thank God for a new sunny day! I realized I need to change how I handle holidays and realize I am right in the middle of two passive-aggressive relationships and I just have to move myself out of them when things get to me. Most importantly, God is there holding me up, comforting me and I need to get over ME and let HIM take care of it.
ReplyDeleteThere's something about Mother's Day that makes you want to be appreciated for what you've done. Nothing wrong with celebrating the day but what happens when things happen! Read Paul David Tripp's blog on Mother's Day and how appreciation can become an idol. http://paultripp.com/articles/posts/the-idol-of-appreciation - "Whose desires rule the moments of opportunities with my child?" I feel like a ping-pong table when it comes to evaluating my performance as a mother. Tripp offers some good thoughts about what stirs within us all. Love your heart Jan for what matters most, a very Good God walking with you.
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