Break the Grip

Scripture:
1 Kings 11:2b-3 — “Solomon held fast to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.”

Observation:
Solomon was referred to by God as the wisest man who ever lived. People sought him out for his wisdom and great counsel. He was king of Israel during the most glorious days of the kingdom. Yet, he allowed his heart to become wrapped around someone other than God, and soon he found himself on a slippery slope of ill-placed passion that ultimately led to his spiritual downfall. The downward spiral began with a simple, “Solomon held fast to these in love.” Next, “his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God.” Then, “Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully.” Finally, “his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel.” What began so promising ended in disaster.

Application:
When my heart and my hands hold tighter to anything other than God, my heart will soon begin to turn away from God completely. Little by little, every day, my grip on God will loosen as my grip on the things of ill-placed passion increases. My challenge then is to keep my heart and my hands from chasing after and clinging to the things that threaten to turn my heart away from God: People. I have to make sure that I spend more time with people who embody a passionate pursuit of God than I do with those who don’t. Pleasure. I have to build into my life those things that honor God, and guard myself against doing things that don’t. Priorities. For me, my greatest priority must be to guard my time with God each day. The greater my love for God, the lesser appeal the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the foolish pride of life will have for me.

Prayer:
Father, I have watched as men once devoted to You, have fallen far into sin. I know it didn’t happen over night. It had to begin slowly, moment by moment, as they allowed their love for You to grow cold. I ask You to prick my heart and check my spirit the moment I begin to slip. Place people in my life who will love me enough to be honest with me. Hide me under the shadow of Your wings. Let nothing – no praise, no person, no pleasure or passion – be greater in my life than my love for You. Help me keep my grip on You and Your Word. Keep it as the apple of my eye. Guard my eyes, my thoughts, my heart from any pursuit that would lead me away from You.

— Jeff Holland, congregational care pastor, Reservoir campus