By God’s gift, Solomon was one of the wisest people to ever live! Yet, in his later years, he wasted the wisdom God gave him and foolishly turned to other influences.
I Kings
11:9-13 9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his
heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to
him twice. 10 Although he
had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So
the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not
kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most
certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your
subordinates. 12 Nevertheless,
for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime.
I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet
I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one
tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem,
which I have chosen.”
Although Solomon wasted his wisdom, God was still faithful to
His promises to David and to Solomon. God gave Solomon an opportunity to
repent, too. It isn’t recorded that Solomon ever repented and turned back to
God. If he had, God would have faithfully forgiven him and helped him use wisdom
again.
When have you and I foolishly wasted something God gave to
us? Money, education, family relationships, time? How might our Faithful God
help you and me to wisely use His gifts going forward?
Alice
