Solomon's wives
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When I go to pay for fuel at our local supermarket, I have to walk past a long isle of chocolate bars and snacks.
They have been strategically placed there, enticing people to grab their favourite just before they pay. After all, what’s a few pence when you have filled your car with fuel?
I do not yield to this chocolate temptation and leave with a sense of pride in my achievement! Are you like me or do you give in?
We all have areas in our life that are our weak spots, those things that seem to easily tempt us and are usually not good for us.
For some it may be food, drink, vaping or smoking. Others may be drawn to watching certain content online or get hooked on things such as gambling.
Someone can struggle with these areas but also be good and successful at other things. This can be in family life, professionally or even in church!
There is a story in the Bible about King Solomon. He succeeded his father David on the throne of Israel around 970BC.
Solomon asked God for wisdom when he became king. This pleased God, and He granted that request, and also gave great wealth and honour to Solomon who built a magnificent Kingdom.
As he grew older there was an ‘area of temptation’ that got the better of him…
“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter – Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.”
The Bible says that Solomon had 700 wives as well as 300 concubines (secondary wives). I think women was Solomon’s ‘weak area’ and it became a big problem!
It led to him abandoning his devotion to God, which ultimately cost him the crown. This is very sad, as Solomon started off so well and had been very influential and successful.
What can we learn from this sad story?
Don’t allow any ‘area of temptation’ to grow. Once you see it, deal with it quickly. One way to get help is to share it with a trusted friend and be accountable to them.
Practice ‘walking away’ when temptation rises. In other words, as soon as you feel you are being drawn in, stop, and intentionally do something else. Keep doing this, so it becomes a natural reflex.
Call on God – aka pray! God loves you and is always just a prayer away. Ask for His help and intervention.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader