When Smart People Do Dumb Things
by Bro. Brian Cone
07/11/2023
1 Kings 11:4 - “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.”
On April 14, 1912, at 10:00 p.m. the Titanic crashed into an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic and four hours later, sank. One woman in a lifeboat asked if she could go back to her room. She was given only three minutes to do so. She hurried down the corridors, already tilting dangerously, through the gambling room piled ankle-deep in money. Her treasures were waiting to be taken in her room, but instead, she snatched up three oranges and hurried back to the boat. One hour before she would have naturally chosen diamonds over oranges, but values are seen more clearly in the face of death.
Solomon was the wisest man in history, and yet he made many dumb decisions. He put value in earthly things that eventually ruined his relationship with God.
• Solomon went to Egypt to find a wife.
• He purchased horses and chariots there. Read 1 Kings 4:26-28; 1 Kings 10:26-29.
• He married Naamah for a peace treaty and bought chariots to protect Israel.
Psalms 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
• All of his pagan wives turned him from God.
Wise people do dumb things when they:
1. FAVOR the wrong things (Read 1 Kings 11:1-3)
1 Kings 11:1, "But king Solomon loved many strange women,”. First, he married wrong. Then Solomon worshiped other gods and he added other gods. Then he went as far as to build buildings for these other gods.
2. FOCUS on the wrong things (Read 1 Kings 11:4-8)
1 Kings 11:6, “And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.” He focused on the wrong things until they were no longer a sin. He no longer sought the Lord.
3. FORGET the most important things (Read 1 Kings 11:9-11)
Obedience brings blessings. Disobedience and the further we are from God causes us to forget about past blessings.
Solomon had forgotten about the covenant and forgot about the compassion that God would show a repented child of God. God told Solomon he would tear apart the kingdom because of his disobedience. What does God have to tear up to bring us back to Him? A multitude of stupid decisions can be forgiven if we humble ourselves and repent before a loving God.
What do you favor? What are you focused on? See the value today in staying close to God so we do not forget the blessings He has poured out over us.
07/11/2023
1 Kings 11:4 - “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.”
On April 14, 1912, at 10:00 p.m. the Titanic crashed into an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic and four hours later, sank. One woman in a lifeboat asked if she could go back to her room. She was given only three minutes to do so. She hurried down the corridors, already tilting dangerously, through the gambling room piled ankle-deep in money. Her treasures were waiting to be taken in her room, but instead, she snatched up three oranges and hurried back to the boat. One hour before she would have naturally chosen diamonds over oranges, but values are seen more clearly in the face of death.
Solomon was the wisest man in history, and yet he made many dumb decisions. He put value in earthly things that eventually ruined his relationship with God.
• Solomon went to Egypt to find a wife.
• He purchased horses and chariots there. Read 1 Kings 4:26-28; 1 Kings 10:26-29.
• He married Naamah for a peace treaty and bought chariots to protect Israel.
Psalms 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
• All of his pagan wives turned him from God.
Wise people do dumb things when they:
1. FAVOR the wrong things (Read 1 Kings 11:1-3)
1 Kings 11:1, "But king Solomon loved many strange women,”. First, he married wrong. Then Solomon worshiped other gods and he added other gods. Then he went as far as to build buildings for these other gods.
2. FOCUS on the wrong things (Read 1 Kings 11:4-8)
1 Kings 11:6, “And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.” He focused on the wrong things until they were no longer a sin. He no longer sought the Lord.
3. FORGET the most important things (Read 1 Kings 11:9-11)
Obedience brings blessings. Disobedience and the further we are from God causes us to forget about past blessings.
Solomon had forgotten about the covenant and forgot about the compassion that God would show a repented child of God. God told Solomon he would tear apart the kingdom because of his disobedience. What does God have to tear up to bring us back to Him? A multitude of stupid decisions can be forgiven if we humble ourselves and repent before a loving God.
What do you favor? What are you focused on? See the value today in staying close to God so we do not forget the blessings He has poured out over us.
Posted in Living for God, Relationship with Christ
Posted in 1 Kings 11, Wisdom, spouse, favor, focus, forget
Posted in 1 Kings 11, Wisdom, spouse, favor, focus, forget
Recent
Archive
2023
January
May
In A MomentFree For Who? Free For You!Purity In PrivateMake Me A BlessingThe Hard Times Of LifeThe Burdens Of LifeHide and SeekThe Conflict Around UsHow To React To DifficultiesGod's GuidanceWhen It Seems Like There Is Nothing LeftA Drink For Your Thirsty SoulThe RaptureTomorrow's Secrets and CertaintiesSuffering For the Sake of OthersWhat Jesus PrioritizedHe Giveth More GraceI Never Knew I Could Do ThatHind Every MountainHeaven's HeadlineGod's Purpose For Your LifeFaith That Leads To ObedienceHaving A Biblical PerspectiveA Good ExampleGod Can See In The DarkGreat Is Our GodFollowing JesusJesus, My RosebudThe Shield Of FaithGod Laughs At Our WisdomThe Almighty God
June
Burned OutWhere Did All These Packages Come From?This GodEvery Decision Has A ConsequenceA Resume That's EternalWhat Will We See In Heaven?Watch Your MouthPut Down The Baby Bottle & Fire Up The GrillWhy Do Good Things Happen To Good People?The Undetected War WithinThe Battle Is Not Yours, But God'sEncouragementThe Value Of A Godly FriendWhat If God Said "Yes" To Everything?NotJust Mind Your BusinessA Day In The LifeThe God-Given Task To FathersThe Kind Of Christian I Would Like To BeStrength And CourageStill No Room For The SaviourHangry And A Bit Dramatic or Void Of Spirituality?We Will Understand It Better By And ByPreach The WordWhat My God Saith, That Will I SpeakDo You Read The Owner's Manual?Can I Know The Will Of God?
July
August
The Thing Which I Greatly FearedThe Best Way To Travel Life's PathwayA Distinct DifferenceSincerity On SundayJoy For Life's JourneyWhat Manner Of LoveMaking A DifferenceOnly Sometimes Usually Leads To NeverThe Order Of LifeOpinionatedGod Knows How It EndsWhat To Do When Troubles ComeHow Do You React To Difficulties?The World's Oldest ProblemWhat Are Your Intentions?The Impact Of A Single SoulWhat's Your Quest?Submitting To The LordA Gift Worth OfferingWhat Do I Have?Why I Love The BibleNot My PresidentThe Blessings Of ObedienceWhat Do You Need For Courage?