RPG Adults
A PERFECT HEART (II)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7
1 Kings 11:1-6
Luke 14:25-33
“…when Solomon was old
…his wives turned away his heart…”
A PERFECT HEART (II)
Despite the charge that was given to Solomon by his father David, Solomon’s failure is well-known. We read that when Solomon was old, “his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4). His heart was no longer fixed steadily on the LORD, but turned away after other gods.
In Solomon’s case it was his wives who turned away his heart ‒ wives that he had taken from the surrounding pagan nations (v 1). How easily an unwise attachment to an ungodly person can cause a Christian to stumble ‒ reader, beware! In fact any earthly affection can turn our hearts away from God. For the rich young ruler it was the love of money and possessions that turned his heart away and caused him to depart from Christ, sorrowing (cf. Matt 19:22). How easily such an idolatrous materialism can creep in, and turn our hearts away from being perfect before God ‒ reader, beware! For the disciples, especially Peter, it was a regard for self-preservation that caused them to forsake the Lord and even deny Him, on the night of His arrest (cf. Mark 14:50; John 20:19). How easily persecution and affliction may cause us to falter in our testimony and service to God, if we do not take care to keep our hearts fixed on Him ‒ O reader, beware!
We must not fail to notice also that specifically mentioned in the account of Solomon’s failure is the fact that he acted against the clear warning of God’s Word: God had told the Israelites not to take wives of these pagan nations, lest these wives turn away the hearts of God’s people (1 Kings 11:2). Solomon, wise as he was in the administration of his kingdom, was foolish in his disobedience to God’s command. We ought not to repeat his mistake, but rather pay heed to God’s prohibition of an unequal yoke between believer and unbeliever (cf. 2 Cor 6:14). Likewise God’s Word warns us against the love of money (cf. 1 Tim 6:6-11), and of the need to deny self in order to follow Christ (cf. Luke 14:33).
Let us therefore take care to keep ourselves from all such attractions, to maintain our hearts perfect and fixed on seeking after and obeying God.
THOUGHT: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21)
PRAYER: O Father, help me to walk before Thee with a perfect heart.