Today’s Reading, 1 Kings 10-11 & 2 Chronicles 9
Focal Scripture: 1 Kings 11:6 “Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, and unlike his father David, he did not remain loyal to the Lord.”
Loyalty is a core quality to have as a person. I can say that I have had several very loyal friends in my life. I know no matter what they will always be there for me in a time of need. I have also had people who have turned out to be very disloyal. One instance happened a few years ago during a position I left. I exposed a person and their poor leadership. This person would consistently bad mouth and gossip about others behind their backs. Me and another person addressed this individual on several occasions about their speech and attitude. However, I learned later that people who I thought knew me and my character believed the lies this individual spoke about me to them. In that instance I learned that loyalty only goes as far as the persons character.
In today’s reading we see the downfall of Solomon. With all of his wisdom and knowledge he still had bad character. How can I say that? He decided to not listen to the Lord and allowed his wives to influence him to build altars to false gods. The Lord was not happy with this and so Solomon did what was evil in the Lords eyes. He was not loyal to the Lord like his father David.
When you expose yourself and prove you’re not loyal it comes with consequences. For instance, in the situation I spoke about earlier I have completely cut off communication and friendships with people I have known for a long time. This includes personally and electronically. I even have gone as far as avoiding speaking to them when I run into them in public.
Now before you think I am being childish let me explain why I have done this with these individuals. I have a very strong sense of justice and I also speak the truth. I am very confrontational and have an extremely difficult time not addressing wrongs or problems I have seen and witnessed. Because of this character trait I avoid people because I don’t want to say something that would hurt their feelings or my testimony.
I want to tell everyone that was gossiped about behind their backs exactly what was said and who said it about them. However, if I do that I will cause harm and damage. Even though they believed a lie about me from an untrustworthy person, I am still loyal to them. I am committed to that loyalty because I don’t know how to be anything else.
The challenge that we have as believers is to be completely loyal to the Lord. We can’t turn to the right or left and we can’t let others opinions or desires influence us from making him our priority. God deserves our loyalty. God demands complete allegiance. This means when others lie about his character we don’t believe it and we declare his goodness in the midst of untruth.
Be loyal to the Lord because he has been loyal to you.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Proverbs 30-31
