Reading: II Chronicles 8 - 9
My Verse: "King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom" (9:22).
This is like a fairy tale. Reading of all Solomon's wealth is amazing. You, LORD God had told him that you would not only give him wisdom but wealth as well. (II Chronicles 1:11 - 12).
And yet, Solomon, became a bit obsessed with the accumulation of wealth. He went after things You had warned against. Solomon seems to have forgotten Your promise to him. He corrupted Your blessing!
In Deuteronomy 17:16, 17 You give a very specific caution to the kings of Israel. "Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses." Yet this is exactly what Solomon did. "And they imported horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands" (9:28).
One wonders if Solomon thought himself exempt from this particular requirement. One wonders - what was Solomon thinking?
Just recently a well known politician and his wife were arraigned/charged with taking money and expensive gifts for favors. I watched some analysts speaking of this. And that was their question - what was the guy thinking? What is this fascination with splashy, expensive things like Rolex watches and designer dresses? The guy was apparently very well liked. It was thought he might run for the presidency, but he allowed greed to take over his better judgement. It is tragic.
Are we so very shallow and selfish, LORD God? I know that wealth in and of itself is not a bad thing. It is what wealth does to us. We tend to corrupt everything good, as Solomon and the politician did.
Without You in our lives we are lost.
"The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery"(Mark 7:21).
And yet, You, LORD God desire only to heal our sinful corrupted hearts!
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 30:17).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom" (9:22).
This is like a fairy tale. Reading of all Solomon's wealth is amazing. You, LORD God had told him that you would not only give him wisdom but wealth as well. (II Chronicles 1:11 - 12).
And yet, Solomon, became a bit obsessed with the accumulation of wealth. He went after things You had warned against. Solomon seems to have forgotten Your promise to him. He corrupted Your blessing!
In Deuteronomy 17:16, 17 You give a very specific caution to the kings of Israel. "Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses." Yet this is exactly what Solomon did. "And they imported horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands" (9:28).
One wonders if Solomon thought himself exempt from this particular requirement. One wonders - what was Solomon thinking?
Just recently a well known politician and his wife were arraigned/charged with taking money and expensive gifts for favors. I watched some analysts speaking of this. And that was their question - what was the guy thinking? What is this fascination with splashy, expensive things like Rolex watches and designer dresses? The guy was apparently very well liked. It was thought he might run for the presidency, but he allowed greed to take over his better judgement. It is tragic.
Are we so very shallow and selfish, LORD God? I know that wealth in and of itself is not a bad thing. It is what wealth does to us. We tend to corrupt everything good, as Solomon and the politician did.
Without You in our lives we are lost.
"The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery"(Mark 7:21).
And yet, You, LORD God desire only to heal our sinful corrupted hearts!
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 30:17).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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