How God Makes Men (MBC Men's Ministry)
Notes
Transcript
The Secret to Success: God’s true path to happiness (according to Solomon)
The Secret to Success: God’s true path to happiness (according to Solomon)
This whole series of “How God makes men” is basically a series of character studies. You’ve had the opportunity to examine the lives and character of men like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, David.... and this week we have the opportunity to examine the life… and character of a man named Solomon.
As I was looking through the Scriptures, examining the life of Solomon.... I was amazed at how similar our lives are. No, i’m not saying that I am the wisest man who has ever lived.... far from it. But, in a number of other ways, I saw how I struggle with the very same things that Solomon struggled with.
As I prepared for tonight, I was convicted and encouraged.... and I wanted to pass what God has reminded me of… on to you. And hopefully.... you will do the same.... take what God teaches you through this study.... and pass it on to other men… who will be able to do the same.
I was born & raised in NC.
Christian home
Christian parents
Saved at a young age.
Attended church every time the doors were open.
By the time I was in high school I was pretty involved… and pretty busy with all the Church things you could imagine. (Sunday AM, PM, choir practice, Wednesday night, Thursday night visitation, Saturday prayer breakfast, Men for Missions…)
Even though I was surrounded by people who loved the Lord and seemed to be pursuing Him.... as the all wise 16-21 year old.... I played the game.... I gave the appearance… but my heart was always pursuing something else.
Friends, entertainment, pleasure, girls, etc....
In high school and college I experienced and experimented with everything I could... to find happiness.... to find satisfaction. Truthfully, I was pursuing happiness… satisfaction in anything other than God. I am so happy that we didn’t have social media.. or smart phones back then!!!
My heart was divided. I went to church… even sang in the choir… but then I also went to all the parties.... I did all the things that teenagers and young adults do to have fun… and live life.... and be satisfied.... but I found that it wasn’t ever enough.... I was always looking for more… It is like I was chasing something that I wouldn’t ever be able to catch....
Every time I thought I found the secret to happiness.... to being truly satisfied..... It’s like when I went to grab it… it just vanished out of my hand.... like smoke.
Eventually, Praise the Lord, God got my attention… and I truly surrendered my entire being to God.....
The lesson I learned that I am sure many of you have learned as well is:
It is impossible for us to find lasting happiness in any pursuit apart from God.
While this statement is absolutely true… I don’t ever want you to take my word for it. Let’s examine Solomon’s life together and see the conclusions that he comes to… which God has recorded for us in His Word.
To understand Solomon… and look at his character… we need to have an idea of his story.
Solomon’s Bio (Walk through the narrative of Scripture together — as you read Scripture you need to constantly ask yourself.... why is this here? God could have put anything in the Bible. Why did he choose to put this here?)
David’s son with Bathsheba
King of Israel (after David) 1 Kings 1
1 Kings 1:43 (ESV)
“… for our lord King David has made Solomon king,
David’s instructions to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-4)
When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
Pretty simple instructions. Keep your eyes on the Lord.... pursue God!!! Obey His Word!!!… and things will go well for you and the kingdom!
Solomon’s initial decisions as King.
1 Kings 3:1–3 (ESV)
Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only (but he also) he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.
Married a non Yahweh worshipper which the Law prohibited (Deut. 7:3; 17:16-17) We will talk about this more in a minute.
Worships in the high places even though the Ark is in Jerusalem…
High places: Many were pagan Canaanite worship centers (fertility) that were re-dedicated to the Lord during the time of Joshua. While the altar at Gibeon did have some significance because it was the place where the Tabernacle had been kept and where the original bronze altar had been built (1 Chron. 21:29). — Solomon’s decision is contrary to Mosaic law (Deut. 12:1-4). In the conquest of the land, they were to destroy all the high places.... instead they “redeemed” them.... a decision that would reap generational repercussions. After the conquest you see the people constantly returning to the “high places” to worship.... and often times… it is not the Lord Yawheh whom they are worshiping…
Why did Solomon do this? In Deut. 12, Moses had given instructions to tear down all the high places and establish a central place of worship, which the Lord would establish. God had chosen Jerusalem… that is where the Ark was… but there was no single place (house of worship) built yet to accommodate worship in Jerusalem… So, Solomon, sincere in his desire to worship, goes to this high place at Gibeon, which was the most famous place…
(differences between the information recorded in Kings vs Chronicles: Both books highlight the line of David. Kings does present more of David’s faults but also both Kings and Chronicles compares the kings to David. David is like their benchmark for success… as the writers are looking forward to the coming Davidic King. The Hebrew Bible ends with the book of Chronicles… When is he coming?)
1 Kings 3:3 (ESV)
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.
I think it is interesting that the writer of 1 Kings places this little note in verse 3.
— I think it is a bit of foreshadowing that the writer puts here on purpose. (spiritual & moral double minded)
Keep this in mind that in 3:3, we are told that Solomon loved the Lord. Important. But… he is also sacrificing / making offerings at the high places.
(I think we are being given an insight into Solomon’s core character…) Yes, he is the son of David seated on the throne....and yes he makes some of the same mistakes his father made... but in the end… his heart and the core of his character are not like his father David’s.
David was a man who pursued God’s own heart.... Solomon will end up being a man who would pursue very different things.
Solomon asks for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5, 9, 11-14)
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
Pretty sweet. Solomon asks for wisdom… and God gives it to him. Plus, God gives him pretty much everything else in the world that a man could want.
Overview of Solomon’s accomplishments
I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
Dispensed justice in the kingdom
Built the Temple
Wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs
Botanist
Zoologist
Shipping Entrepreneur
Collected Egyptian horses
Teacher:
Global influencer
Solomon did and could do anything and everything.... and yet…
Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV)
Then I considered all that my hands had done (I reflected on all of my experiments…) and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
He had everything that a man could ever want.... but he wasn’t happy. He realized that everything he pursued pleasure and satisfaction in.... apart from God… was empty, worthless… a frustrating pursuit. Like running around in a wind storm trying to catch the wind.
It’s as if Solomon was chasing after satisfaction, worth, and lasting happiness and then right as he went to grab it.... it vanished in a puff of smoke… slipping through his fingers.
Solomon may have been the wisest man on the planet… but there was something that he had to learn from experience. That is what the entire book of Ecclesiastes is about. It is one long experiment to do one thing.... Find lasting happiness and purpose apart from God.
Throughout all of Solomon’s experiments and pursuits… he learned this valuable truth.... and passes it on to us.
God has created us in such a way that it is impossible for us to find lasting happiness in anything apart from Him.
It is impossible for us to find lasting happiness in any pursuit apart from God.
What happened? How did Solomon get off track? — The same we we get off track. Chasing something that we were never meant to catch!
We all get off track at one point or another.
If you are trying to find meaning or lasting happiness in your pursuit of pleasure, accomplishment, recognition, or praise… then you’ll be sorely disappointed and thoroughly frustrated.
You may be able to see it, feel it, taste it, and experience its effects.... but you’ll never be able to grab hold of it and keep it.
I’m sure most of us in here tonight are not trying to get off track… I’d like to believe that none of us are intentionally trying to go down the wrong pathway.... one that leads to frustration & depression. But it does happen.
We need the help of faithful brothers to point out when we are off track… and to help us pursue the right things.
Guys, that is why we are here tonight! To help one another confront sin… get back on track… and grow in grace, godliness, so that we can be the men that God has called us… and created us to be!
Solomon went from speaking with God and asking for wisdom … to the point where he seems to be holding his head in his hands… looking for happiness and meaning. Maybe you are there tonight. Maybe you know someone who is there..... This conversation is for you....
Try your hardest not to tune out.
We have heard a little bit of Solomon’s story. Now let’s find out where Solomon got off track and learn from his mistakes…
Solomon’s first mistake was to pursue satisfaction. (He was literally looking for love in all the wrong places!)
Pursuing Satisfaction: (power, control, fame, riches, indulgence, pleasure)
Chapter 10 ends with an overview of all of Solomon’s wealth. (Remember, not what Solomon asked for… but it was what Solomon received as kind of a bonus)
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.
Remember, back in 3:3, we read that “Solomon loved the Lord!”
But now… the tone of the text changes completely.... The King (emphasized in the Hebrew Text)…the king himself! The very king who is supposed to be a king like David…
… the man who loved the Lord… whom God had given so much wisdom to… now has come to love many foreign women.
I am pretty sure that Solomon did not just wake up one day and say.... Well. I am going to go and marry a bunch of foreign women so that I can run after their false gods. What we are reading about in 1 Kings 11 is the result of a series of small decisions.... a series of concessions… a series of justifications… that have all cumulatively led him to where he is in this passage.
It’s the same with us. rarely do we end up in a bad situation based on one decision. It’s usually from a series of many bad decisions that have led us there.
As the King, Solomon knew that he was not to acquire many wives for himself.... or his heart would be turned away from the Lord. That was established back in Deuteronomy 17:17.
Solomon broke that rule… by loving many women. Plus… they were foreign women.
Yes, there was a political dimension to all of Solomon’s wives… they were from all of the surrounding nations.... I’m sure there were diplomatic reasons for many of these Royal marriages....
But, see how easy it is to justify our sin. Men, in our minds we can justify almost anything.
It’s for the good of the nation! It is for the good of the company!… my career!
We make concessions..... we make excuses… we justify what we are doing… we convince ourselves that it is for the greater good.... then we wake up one day and look in the mirror realizing that we have become the very opposite of what we had set out to be…
When we look at Solomon’s story, we see a man that had every opportunity.
Wisdom, fame, fortune, power…
But in his pursuit of lasting happiness.... he found himself frustrated.
Why? Because he was seeking satisfaction in something that was not designed to be satisfied by.
Solomon pursued fulfillment in satisfaction.... power, control, riches, business success, financial success, pleasure…
He had 700 wives… and 300 concubines.
Ok.... now. I know what you are thinking. How in the world can this guy be asking me to compare myself with Solomon in this area?
Solomon slept with at least 1000 different women. I could never get that far off track.
Let me remind you of what Jesus said....
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
How many of us have ever looked lustfully at a woman?
Once a day for 3 years = 1095 times
In Jesus’ eyes, we are no different than Solomon.
I don’t know exactly what you are struggling with… but I do know that we are all men. And every single one of us, struggles with lust on one level or another. (I often find myself is a situation where I am talking with a women and I have to keep telling myself… don’t look down… don’t look down.... don’t look down…) We are men.. and for the most part… we are attracted to visual stimulation)
If it is not lusting after women, it is something else. (success, money, power, influence, contentment, comfort, etc....)
How often have you pursued satisfaction in anything other than God? 1x a month? 2x a month? 1x a week? 1x a day?
Here is a sobering thought. Each and every time we even think about pursuing satisfaction in something other than God.... we commit spiritual adultery.
Each and every time we place something in our heart as more important than God… we commit spiritual idolatry.
1 Kings 11:2 (ESV)
...Solomon clung to these in love.
Clung: To cling to/ to keep close/ to cleave (Gen. 2:24) — same word that God used when initiating the marriage relationship…
It’s almost as if the writer of 1 Kings is pointing us back to the Garden.... when God initiated the marriage covenant relationship where a man and a woman stopped clinging to their parental relationships and began to cling (be deeply attached in love) to their spouse… which resulted in a one-flesh relationship.
Yeah.... what God designed as a way for a man and woman to become closer.... to one another and to God… Solomon has abused to the point where he has become one-flesh with over 1000 women…
Remember what Jesus said about lusting in our hearts.... we may not have physically done what Solomon did… but we are no less guilty of the same sins.
As Solomon loved and clung to (became one flesh with) his pagan wives.... he also loved and clung to their pagan gods.... and pagan religions. There is no way to cling to sin.... and not have it turn your heart away from God. (drinking… video games…)
When you cling to anything other than God as your source of satisfaction, fulfillment, purpose.... then you are basically becoming one flesh with that thing....
Think you’ll find lasting happiness? (work, family, status, achievement, hobbies, alcohol, drugs, porn, women.... ) No way!
Nothing will satisfy you… nothing will give you what you are so desperately seeking! Why?
Because God has created and designed you (me) so that it is impossible for you (me) to find lasting happiness in any pursuit apart from Him.
Guys, here is a valuable truth that we can learn from Solomon’s story.
The pursuit of satisfaction often results in idolatry and adultery.
You might not be going to worship at the pagan high places… but if anything is taking God’s place in your heart… you are just as guilty as Solomon.
Table Discussion: (5 minutes) Table leader: The person wearing the most blue
· Share ways that you have experienced the pursuit of satisfaction leading you into idolatry and adultery.
· How did you gain victory?
· What next steps should you take now?
The pursuit of satisfaction often results in idolatry and adultery. (and will turn our heart away from the Lord)
When we look for love in all the wrong places… we usually find ourselves loving all the wrong things.
What we need is a true pursuit of a love that truly satisfies.... Guys. You know the answer. That love… that satisfaction… that fulfillment… is only found in a passionate, active, and intentional relationship with God.
Pursuing satisfaction led Solomon down a dangerous road.... that eventually led to his second mistake....
Pursuing Syncretism: (Wanting the best of all available options)
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. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth 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. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.
This is a dangerous place to be in.... but it doesn’t necessarily feel dangerous.
Illustration of Liberia - syncretism
These men lived as if there were nothing wrong.... everyone knew what was going on… but no one would talk about it.
(illustration of syncretism: Watering down coffee in a large clear container) — When we allow syncretism… we water down our faith to the point where it no longer even resembles faith… it becomes something else…
How do we fall into this trap? Because we are really good at justifying what we want to do.
(If I go to the witch doctor… then it will help the church… if I offer this sacrifice… then our farm will be successful and I can give the money to the Church.... if I say yes to this thing.... even though I know it is wrong.... then it will make my wife/ kids happy....
My guess is that Solomon wasn’t all that different. Well… I’ve got to keep my 700 wives… and 300 girlfriends happy.... so I’ll just let them do their thing. I’ll let them keep keep their gods. I mean they are fake anyway… what could it hurt? I’ll just pacifying them. I mean… it helps me get what I want.... and I’m a pretty wise guy… so it must be a good decision.
Ok. We get it. How many of us have done things that we didn’t want to do (sometimes against our better judgement)… to make our wives… or kids happy?
Let’s assume that Solomon did what he did to pacify his wives… not a good excuse… but we can understand where he’s at.
Well, verse 5 kills that thought.
1 Kings 11:5 (ESV)
For Solomon(‘s wives) went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
1 Kings 11:6 (ESV)
So Solomon (‘s wives) did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, ....
Isn’t that what your translation says? Nope not what it says.
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth 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.
Verse 5 tells us that Solomon “went after” these gods.
Solomon didn’t allow them in his kingdom just to pacify his wives..... the text says that he was the one who went after them. That phrase “went after” in this context could also be translated as to pursue… to behave like…
So, what was Solomon going after… what was he pursuing?
Ashtoreth (goddess of war and other things) was the female partner of Baal, the Canaanite god of storms.
Milcom also known as Molech. This might not mean much to us, but to the original readers… this would have shocked them into realizing how horrible this is.
Molech was a god to whom children were burned in sacrifice. You see references to this “god” being worshipped by the Israelites in Judges, 2 Kings, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah.
Here is an interpretation tool you can use. When you see the “god” Molech referred to in Scripture, it seems to become a symbol for everything that was terrible and evil in the pagan religions of Canaan. When the people of Israel adopted the practices of Molech worship, it reflects that they had become utterly corrupt.
The fact that Solomon pursued/ went after the god Molech.... makes a pretty big statement that speaks to his spiritual condition.
The writer is pointing us to how bad the condition of Solomon’s heart had become!
The worshippers of Molech would heat these great metal statues up with fire to the point where they would glow red, and then they would take children and lay them on the arms of the hot metal statue.... Horrible! That is the kind of worship that Solomon was pursuing
This thought is so disgusting and detestable… the writer can’t hide it. Each time the writer uses the word ‘Milcom/ Molech” he adds the word “abomination”. Its like every time he writes the word… he throws up a little bit in his mouth… just disgusting!
Solomon with all his wisdom… with all his wealth… pursued… behaved like… these pagan gods and all their practices.…
Heartbreaking! Instead of pursuing the Lord.... Solomon’s heart pursued these false gods…
When our hearts are turned away from the Lord… we can justify almost anything.
One Pastor I know of (a church that used to support us), it came out that he and the church secretary were having an affair. They would meet at a hotel. Have a Bible study… pray together… then have sex. —
We can justify anything… if our hearts are not pursuing the Lord.
Why do you think the leadership at Maranatha is so focused on teaching and preaching the Word? Because the Word of God… is what the Spirit of God uses to turn our hearts to the Lord.
Not theatrics… not technology.... not cultural relativism.... not affirming everyone’s opinions and preferences.... not politics… not current events....
These things are not necessarily bad in themselves… but they are the idols of our age… that lead the hearts of men away from the Lord.
Men, there are so many things being promoted in “churches” across the world… that have nothing to do with God. They have to do with the worlds agendas being promoted as Christianity… when in reality… they are directly from Satan.... meant to distract us from the truth… and purposely get us off track!
God’s Word… and God’s Spirit… are the only things that will truly change the hearts of men. That is why we focus on the teaching and study the Word of God so much here!
it is impossible for you (me) to find lasting happiness in any pursuit apart from God.
Guys, here is another valuable truth that we can learn from Solomon’s story.
The pursuit of syncretism (merging all the available options) often results in our attitudes and affections being turned completely away from the Lord.
Table Discussion: (5 minutes) Table leader: The person who sat down at the table first tonight
· Share ways that you have experienced how pursuing the best of both worlds has led your attitudes & affections away from the Lord.
· How did you gain victory?
· What next steps should you take now?
Conclusion Application:
The rest of the book of Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s account of how he pursued lasting happiness and the secret to success apart from God.
By the end of his life.... Solomon finally did discover the secret to success. After all of Solomon’s “experiments” were finished… he said...
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Solomon had the secret to true enduring happiness all along. The lesson he learned at the end of his research was actually told to him by his father on his death bed back in 1 Kings 2:1-4.
Pursue God.... and obey and live according to His Word!
God will deal with us in one of three ways: I would not build a theology based on this thought… but I do see it is practically lived out in our lives. God gives us His gracious resources.... but then often we use/ abuse them not based on God’s intentions.. but based on our sinful, fallen, desires…)
He will withhold the thing that we cannot live without (money, relationships…
He will remove the thing that we can’t live without.
Or He will give us so much of it that we gag on it. (This was Solomon’s experience)…
Solomon had so much wisdom, wealth, power, and pleasure that he choked on it!!!
How is God dealing with you? Is God allowing one of these situations to take place in your life? If so, He very well may be trying to get your attention!
Other than Jesus, none of the people recorded in the Bible were perfect. They all had some flaws. But many are still very much worthy to emulate… and pattern our lives by. Many of the men in this series in fact. Abraham, Lot, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, David.... None of these men were perfect.... all of them had their faults and mistakes… and yet they are all listed in Hebrews 11… the Hall of Faith!
I mean… even a guy like Samson… one of the most self centered…full of themselves guys in the Bible… is listed in Hebrews 11!
Why are all these men listed? Because… no matter their faults.... they believed.... they placed their faith completely in the promises of God.... and God recorded them as examples of faith.
Do you know whose name I cannot find recorded in Hebrews 11? Solomon.
The wisest man to ever live.... the richest, most successful.....guy to ever live.... isn’t there. Why? Because his heart was turned away from the Lord.... Solomon put his pursuit of satisfaction.... his love for pleasure… before his love for the Lord.
it makes me sick to think of all the times I have done that…… and still do that!
Solomon started off well. The Lord was pleased with him.... but eventually all of his self-focused and self-pleasuring pursuits turned his heart completely away from the Lord.
The consequences of his sins would ripple through the generations.... The united Kingdom that David ruled… was torn apart....
Solomon very well could have died a sad man… choking on all of the wealth… women.... and “satisfaction” that he could handle…
God makes it impossible for us to find lasting happiness in any pursuit apart from Him.
Ultimately, God taught Solomon this lesson. But, Solomon chose to learn it the hard road of experience.
What will it take for God to teach you this lesson?
One of the great things about the Bible is that it doesn’t hold anything back. It records what really happened in the lives of the people. It gives us all the mistakes.. as well as all of the successes. We don’t have to make the same mistakes that others have made.... we probably will (because we are also sinners), but we don’t have to.
Men, here is some advice. Don’t try to be like Solomon. Get a better role model. But, do learn from his mistakes. and realize that:
it impossible for us to find lasting happiness in any pursuit apart from God.
Our response:
Stop Chasing after satisfaction! Stop chasing after the best of all you see available to you!
Pursue God! Desire in your heart to glorify Him in all that you do! (Find your satisfaction in Him alone! Anything else… is a frustrating and fruitless endeavor.)
It is easier than we’d like to admit for us to get off track.
How are we to live out these responses?
Cultivate an environment for success. (I’ve been talking with the church admin staff about this)
D Groups, Connect Groups, ABF, mutual / intentional accountability
(tell the story about Phil Melton… “I don’t need....” When I hear that.... my first thoughts are… this guy is going to snap one day… and then we’ll find out all the things he was involved in that he hid from everyone for so long.)
Men, don’t be that guy! We all need accountability.... we all need someone to “one another” us.
When we started looking at Solomon’s story… I told you that you always need to read Scripture with this question in mind....
Why did God put this here?
God put Solomon’s biography in the Bible for many reasons… one of them could be to show us where having unmatched wealth, wisdom, power, and pleasure can lead us. And so that none of us can ever say… “If I only have _________________, then I’d be truly happy!”.
No matter what vice, treasure, or thing you fill in the blank with.... Solomon tried it… and it didn’t turn out so well.
While I would not recommend you modeling your life after Solomon… we can learn from his example.
Group Discussion Question:
How can Solomon’s conclusions help keep you on track, or get you back on track?
What can I do to cultivate an atmosphere for success… so that I don’t end up like Solomon?
Personally reflect:
Where will you be in 10 years if you don’t make a course correction?