A Tale of Two Kings

“9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among other kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” l Kings 3

“4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreh the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.” I Kings 11

This is the tragic epitaph of the life of Solomon. As a contributor to, if the not the author of the book of Ecclesiastes, his disenchantment with the folly and futility of his life choices are echoed in the repetitive summary descriptive phrase, “chasing after the wind”.

Solomon’s original choice to pursue wisdom over wealth is ultimately prostituted by the seduction of women and the worldly gods they worshipped.

It's hard to imagine at some levels how Solomon, blessed by God with the riches of His kingdom, could so easily succumb to the fleeting offerings of another kingdom--that internal self-indulgent menagerie of pleasure and passion.

At closer glance, however, I can see the same insidious seduction at work in my own life in the choices I make about the stewardship of my talent, time and treasure.

Here’s what i’m asking myself this morning as I reflect upon Solomon’s life in my daily Bible reading (where I go to seek wisdom).

1. How will I use my talents and gifts today to serve God? Are there intentional ways I will choose to honor Him in kingdom work, ie sharing my faith, encouraging others, interceding for those who have reached out to me for prayer?

2. How will I use my time today? Will I invest it in things that truly matter, ie quality time with my wife, important self-care (exercise and rest) for my body as the “temple of God”, acts of kindness towards others, exploration of God’s creation, the study of the Word…?

3. How will I use my treasure in making eternal investments? Will I look for tangible ways to support meaningful missions and ministry, help the hungry and poor, steward and manage my resources without succumbing to the temptation of simply building “bigger barns”…?

These thought processes help me process this pivotal life-defining issue--

“WHO or WHAT will be king (lord) over my life?” “

“In what kingdom will I choose to live today--the kingdom of my own selfish pursuits or the kingdom of the God who has calked my grace “out of the darkness and into the kingdom of His light and life”?

Today I choose Jesus.