Seek God’s Wisdom
God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge too vast to be measured. -- 1 Kings 4:29
The LORD had clearly instructed his people not to intermarry with those nations, because the women they married would lead them to worship their gods. Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. And sure enough, they led his heart away from the LORD. -- 1 Kings 11:2-3
Solomon was smart. Everyone knew it, including Solomon. He could solve problems and govern his people -- God’s people -- with great wisdom and understanding. Too bad he didn’t apply some of that wisdom to his personal life.
Isn’t that always how it seems to go? Someone who is incredibly smart and gifted in one area, really messes up in another area. Solomon loved women. All women. Foreign women. Women who worshipped idols. Women who were just so bad for him.
It’s sort of like people we know. A person can be wonderful, upstanding even, and just can’t seem to refrain from committing adultery or drinking too much or embellishing the truth or, well, you get the point. There’s always a thorn that helps us remember we are imperfect people.
Solomon probably believed that because he was so wise and so determined to follow God, that these women couldn’t possibly lead him astray. We’ve heard that excuse before. Someone truly believes he/she can hang around people who aren’t Christians and not be influenced by activities that go against God and the Bible. It never works. It didn’t work for Solomon and it won’t work for us.
God understands that. It’s why He warned Solomon and others to stay away from foreign women. When God says no to something, it’s always for our own good. Solomon, in his great wisdom, ignored God’s orders and went his own way. At great cost, I might add.
It’s tempting to walk our own path through this life. It’s sort of like a small child who says, “I can do it all by myself,” as he attempts a new task. Of course, he really needs his parents’ help. Just like we need God’s help on our life path.
God has given us plenty of wisdom. He has given us His Word in the Bible. God gives us pastors and godly friends to guide us. God has sent the Holy Spirit to speak to us from within. And God has given us a mind to reason and embrace all these things. It’s up to us to use them to understand His will and follow His lead. Seek God’s wisdom first, then follow where He leads.
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