Wisdom from a Dying Man

Today we read 1 Kings 2, 1 Chronicles 29, Psalm 95, and 2 Thessalonians 1.

What a way to Go!  King David is on his death bed and tells his succeeding son how to rule and live. In 1 Kings 2.2-4- When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, ² “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, ³ 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, ⁴ 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.’

You can have worldly success without acknowledging the Lord in your life.  I don't advise it and I don't agree with it, but I am not in charge.  Don't ever confuse worldly success with the Hand of God's Favor, however.  I would much rather be in the favor of God than in the wealth of the world.  The Lord led David to tell Solomon that, if he lived for the Lord and if succeeding kings lived for the Lord,  the throne of Israel would be protected.  As it was, Solomon, who was blessed with worldly success, loved women more than he did the Lord for too many years in his life.  Those women exposed him to the multiplicities of worldly, pagan cultures and he took his eyes off God and went after seeking all the world could offer.  It was not until he was an old man that he called it all worthless (or vanities) in the book of Ecclesiastes.  In his old age (Ecclesiastes 12.13) he tells us to walk in the ways of God and keep the statutes of God, which is the same thing his father told him at a similiar age.  Solomon was wise, yet too foolish to listen to the wisdom of his father.  

The end result was a split kingdom and a history of difficulties for that nation.  Never underestimate the words of the wise that point you to the Lord. Never underestimate your influence on coming generations.  Never underestimate the steps that you walk today and the ramifications of your actions on this VERY DAY!

With that in mind, have a great day walking with the Lord!