Strange Things Change Things

Bill Brinkworth

Some things should be “strange” and foreign to a person that wants to please God. Most of the things a Christian should keep away from are against the principles for him as commanded in God’s Word. Most of those practices will make a believer act the same as the losing, unsaved side. King Solomon is an example of what happens to a godly person, when he lets down his guard and does what the ungodly world is doing.

Solomon started out serving God and had the blessings of the Almighty:

However, as he got older, his desires and love for God changed. His wonderful, God-directed life changed, when his heart to please God changed:
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart . 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. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.” I Kings 11:1-6

King Solomon knew he should only fellowship with those of like faith. However, he let his wandering, lusting eyes have too much control in his life. Soon, he was not only in close contact with the ungodly; he developed an interest in their women. It was not long until he disobeyed God’s command to stay away from the heathen, and was marrying them — over 700 times!

His heathen wives turned his heart in the idolatrous direction their hearts were, and the once God-loving king, was “evil” in God’s eyes. If he had only obeyed God’s command to be separate from the ungodly, he would not have made such a spiritual mistake. God’s hand of blessing was off King David’s son, and Solomon’s sin cost him much, including:

 

His life would have been a lot different if he had kept his first love of wanting to please his Maker. Hopefully, we can learn from Solomon’s example. No one gets away with the price tag on sin. We may not make the foolish decision to pick ungodly friends and mates, but we can have our lives ruined by “strange” things. These “strange” things include:

God had wonderful plans for Solomon; but the king canceled God’s planned future for him, because of his sin. If you are a child of God, He also has big plans for you. If you are saved, you are on the winning side. Acting, dressing, talking, thinking, and living like the ungodly will only guarantee that your life will end as did King Solomon’s.

 

This lesson was featured in The Bible View #165.

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