Wisdom isn’t enough. Fame and fortune are not enough. How do I know? The Bible credits King Solomon as being the wisest man who ever lived, and because Solomon had asked God for wisdom when he could have asked for anything, God also gave Solomon great wealth. Solomon’s fame had spread and rich rulers would come to pay homage and see with their own eyes the legitimacy of the claims. Let’s face it – by earthly standards – Solomon had it all.
In so many ways Solomon was set up for success. He was the son of the LORD’s beloved King David. His father had provided all the materials and plans for him to build a Temple to honor the LORD’s name. All that Solomon really had to do was follow through.
And he did. Until he didn’t.
The Temple was completed. In a massive offering and dedication ceremony, God Himself fills the Temple. The people of Israel get the opportunity to have an experience of their own with God – with Solomon leading the way – but somewhere along the way, Solomon stops making the effort to put God first. He stops making God’s (and even his father’s) instructions a priority. Solomon’s heart shifts.
I have often wondered why King David is known as a man after God’s heart, his son Solomon is known to be Israel’s greatest king, and the very next ruler – Solomon’s son Rehoboam is considered evil in the sight of God.
My guess is that Solomon got caught up in all his fortune and fame. He started strong… yet at some point, Solomon’s wants and needs moved him into a point of living for self. He actually thought his wisdom was superior to God’s – or at least that he could work around God’s commands without actually following them.
How do I know?
Well, following the Temple’s completion and the building of Solomon’s own palace, there is a verse out of the book of 2 Chronicles that provides some insight. “Solomon moved his wife, Pharoah’s daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. He said, “My wife must not live in King David’s palace, for the Ark of the LORD has been there, and it is holy ground.” (2 Chronicles 8:11)
Let that sink in for a minute.
Solomon knew this wife would not be pleasing to God. He knew. Yet He married her anyway. Why would God not have been pleased? Well, in the book of Kings we read that although Solomon built the Temple for the LORD, he also built places for idol worship – and specifically listed is a place for this particular wife to worship her false gods.
God became one of many gods by this leader whom he both loved and blessed. Solomon began well – but ended poorly in his obedience to God. Is it any wonder then, that his son is not God-honoring?
What Solomon should have done was live a life of obedience to God. Not half-hearted obedience. Not superficial obedience. Solomon would have done well to listen to the advice from his parents and avoided women that led him astray. His lust for pleasure overruled his heart for God.
Friend, we may not have the wisdom of Solomon, but I pray that we are wise enough and humble enough to live in obedience to God’s word. I pray that in times where temptation is placed before us we are able to recall that because of God’s strength there is always a way to avoid the pull of temptation and sin. I pray that what we are modeling to our children is not the concept or desire to build a kingdom for ourselves – but rather being a part of building God’s kingdom.
How do I accomplish this? Can it be done? Through obedience, self-discipline, and absolute dependence on God – all things are possible.
Blessings!