When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.  Billy Graham

Drifting

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter – Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
1 Kings 11:1-4

We all start well at the beginning of the race but the reward is only given to the person who is able to persevere through the challenges to finish the race.

King Solomon started well, by seeking the Lord for wisdom to govern the people. He never asked for wealth or riches but God gave him wisdom as well as riches because the Lord was satisfied with his request.

What, then, happened to Solomon? Firstly, he lost focus when he disobeyed God and married women from other nations. Secondly, he lost sight of his priorities by wanting to please these women and so he built altars at high places for them. The passion and the love that he had for the Lord slowly drifted away towards his wives and concubines. This resulted in a loss of commitment to the affairs of the Lord. The word says. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in them.” 1 John 2:15

Let us look at our lives this morning and ask us ourselves, “Have I drifted away from the things of the Lord? Am I able to focus on God’s priorities with the same determination and purpose as when I began walking with Him?” If not, we need only to repent and confess to the Lord and He will gladly guide us back onto the right track.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for speaking to me through this word. I have been too busy and have not spent enough time with You. Please help me to return my focus to You so that I can run with endurance the race that is set before me. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju