We Must Love the Lord More Than Anyone

Note from today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9

Despite a promising start to his reign, eventually, Solomon’s “heart was turned away from the Lord” (1 Kings 11:9). His father David, despite his flaws, was faithful to God. Yet Solomon’s “heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been” (1 Kings 11:4).

What caused this change in Solomon? We are told that he “loved many foreign women” (1 Kings 11:1). God had explicitly warned His people, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after other gods” (1 Kings 11:2). The text says that “Solomon held fast to these in love,” and they “turned his heart away” (1 Kings 11:2-3).

We need to learn from the example of Solomon. Not only did the law prohibit worshiping a false god, but the God of heaven had abundantly blessed Solomon. He had even “appeared to him twice” (1 Kings 11:9). Yet his attachment to these idolatrous women led him to practice idolatry (1 Kings 11:5-8). If we are not careful, our attachment to worldly people can also lead us to worldly practices.

So remember that we must love the Lord more than anyone. Pleasing Him should be our highest priority. If we fail to do that, nothing we do for others will matter.