Wisdom is knowing there are consequences for wrong things. - 09/01/19
The Big Idea
Wisdom is knowing and understanding right things, the good things of God, but it’s also understanding there are consequences to wrong things.
When we are purposely told not to do something but do it anyway, should we be surprised if we have to face the consequences of our wrong actions?
What should we know?
We started this series on wisdom reading in 1 Kings 3:5-15. There, Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave it to him. Not only did Solomon get wisdom but also riches and honor. Solomon became the richest, wisest man to ever live because God made it so. What happened over time, though, is Solomon ultimately rejected what God gave him and then consequences followed.
So what is happening here in 1 Kings 11:9–13? Why has God declared these things? What did Solomon do, or not do, that has caused God to be this upset?
Well, Solomon has made a number of very unwise decisions and actions over time. One of these decisions was to marry wives (yes I said wives plural) that were not of Israel. Your first thought might be that God was mad because Solomon had more than one wife. This is part of it, as God gave instructions in Deut. 17:14-20 for Israel’s Kings and part of the instruction was to not acquire many wives. The greater infraction in Solomon’s decision is that by marrying these women, he turned his heart away from God.
Think of it this way. I have a father. He is a wise dad and has given me instructions to follow so I grow into a good man. But what if I don’t listen to my dad and think that I know better than him, so I play video games all day and skip doing school work. This may be fun and last for a period of time but I have avoided the wisdom my father gave to me. My dad has responsibility for me and I am accountable to him. Do you think my dad would be happy with me if I did not do what he purposely said for me to do? No. Solomon’s disregarded the great wisdom given to him in favor of decisions he wanted to make. Simply put, he rebelled against God. He sinned.
Now what?
We talked before about the wisdom Jesus gave us in Matthew 7:24-27, either hearing and doing or hearing and not doing. Jesus told us the consequences. When we do what He has instructed, we are wisely following Him. When we trust Jesus and fully believe in Him, we see the instructions He gave us to be helpful for us.
We have scripture to show us wisdom. Like God gave directly to Solomon, He has given us His Word in order to know Him and obey him. Our choices, wise or foolish, impact us and impact those around us. Let’s be wise.
What does scripture tell us?
1 Kings 11:9–13
[9] And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice [10] and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. [11] Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. [12] Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. [13] However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.” (ESV)