No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24.
So gradual was Solomon’s apostasy that before he was aware of it, he had wandered far from God. Almost imperceptibly he began to trust less and less in divine guidance and blessing, and to put confidence in his own strength….
Engrossed in an overmastering desire to surpass other nations in outward display, the king overlooked the need of acquiring beauty and perfection of character. In seeking to glorify himself before the world, he sold his honor and integrity….
The conscientious, considerate spirit that had marked his dealings with the people during the early part of his reign, was now changed. From the wisest and most merciful of rulers, he degenerated into a tyrant. Once the compassionate, God-fearing guardian of the people, he became oppressive and despotic.15Prophets and Kings, 55, 56.
Men who have the use of money are to learn a lesson from the history of Solomon. Those who have a competence are in continual danger of thinking that money and position will ensure them respect, and they need not be so particular. But self-exaltation is but a bubble. By misusing the talents given him, Solomon apostatized from God. When God gives men prosperity, they are to beware of following the imaginations of their own hearts, lest they endanger the simplicity of their faith and deteriorate in religious experience.16Manuscript 40, 1898.
The lesson for us to learn from the history of this perverted life is the necessity of continual dependence upon the counsels of God; to carefully watch the tendency of our course, and to reform every habit calculated to draw us from God. It teaches us that great caution, watchfulness, and prayer are needed to keep undefiled the simplicity and purity of our faith. If we would rise to the highest moral excellence, and attain to the perfection of religious character, what discrimination should be used in the formation of friendships, and the choice of a companion for life! 17The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1031.
Conflict and Courage p. 193
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Brenda who has some cracked vertebrae and is having tests to see what the next treatment should be. Rose
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Dear Friends,
When my children were small, we lived in North Carolina. One spring day we noticed that some birds were building a nest in the decorative trim on the front of our house. It was an ideal place where the parent birds were sure that their little babies would not fall out of the nest. We welcomed them as a learning experience for the children as the nest was low enough that we could lift them up and they could look at the eggs.
Soon the babies hatched, and from inside the trailer we could hear their cheeps every time the parent bird came with a bug or a worm for them to eat. As they grew larger, the cheeps became louder, but it did not bother us. We would sneak outside when both parents were gone hunting for food and look at the baby birds.
One day, as I sat down on the sofa that was against the wall that was directly behind the bird’s nest, I noticed some tiny insects swarming on the back of the sofa. I suddenly realized that these were bird mites. I checked the wall and it also was covered with mites. I was horrified! Suddenly the thought of having those birds so close was not pleasant. I wanted those mites out of my house.
I immediately went to the store and bought some spray that could be used to rid pet birds of mites. I sprayed the sofa, the wall, and the baby birds. That helped, but since I could not spray the parent birds, the problem soon returned. Finally, the only thing that could be done was to get rid of the nest.
It is that way in life. How many times we watch TV programs or read material that fill our minds with wrong thoughts. How often we enjoy listening to music that leads us away from Christ. Soon we become infested with the “mites” of this world. We find that we have become like those about whom Paul speaks, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” Titus 1:15
We become alarmed at our condition and try to change, but we cannot. The allurement of the music or of the program or story pulls us in once again and we find that we are held fast in the devil’s snare.
How much we need the help of the One Who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb 4:15 How much we need His cleansing power! Our prayer must be, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps 51:1-13
Praise God! He will answer that prayer of faith. He promises, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Exe 36:26,27
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
Rose
