At the height of his reign, Solomon enjoyed wisdom, wealth, peace, and God’s favor. But a quiet shift was taking place that eventually led him to worship other gods. In this lesson, we will look at the the choices that pulled Solomon away from God so we don't make the same mistakes. You may think you could never turn away from God, but I'm sure Solomon thought the same thing.

Everything we possess—wisdom, opportunity, influence, and understanding—comes from God. We can bring our hardest questions and deepest confusions to God, because He knows and understands everything.

God gave Solomon wisdom and wealth and used it to reveal His character to the nations. He wants to do the same with us today. When we draw near to Him, adopt His ways, and let His wisdom shape our decisions, we reflect Him to the world. Let Him shine through you today.

God promised Solomon that He would watch over Israel and hear the prayers offered towards His Temple. If they continued to follow Him, He would bless and keep them. If they turned away from Him, He would punish them. But if they repented and sought Him, He would forgive and restore.

It is the same for us today. God still watches over His people and hears their prayers. He knows our hearts and deals with us according to our ways and our intentions. When we call on Him and seek Him wholeheartedly, He hears and answers our prayers in His goodness.

Solomon was the king of Israel, yet he humbled himself publicly and offered himself as a living sacrifice to the Lord. Jesus is the King of all Heaven and earth, yet He humbled Himself publicly and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. They both praised God, gave Him glory, and prayed for themselves and their people.

So, if the King of Israel, and more significantly the King of Heaven and earth, are not too important to humble themselves and offer their lives to God, we have no excuse. So, follow their example. Humble yourself and dedicate your life to the Lord. Kneel before Him and pray. Lift your hands in praise. Remind yourself of God’s holiness, faithfulness, and kindness so you will have hope and faith for the future

We have a God that wants to be with us. He revealed this first by His presence in the Tabernacle, then in the Temple. After that, Jesus came and lived among the people and when He died, He sent His Spirit to dwell in the hearts of every believer which is His presence with us today. But all of this points us to a day when we will dwell in His physical presence forever and His glory will not overwhelm us.

God is our provider. He can meet our every need. Whether it be material, tangible, or practical, or it be a talent, skill, or character trait, God can give us what we need, when we need it. We just need to learn to rely on Him. When you recognize a need, let Him be the first one you ask. Don’t try to figure it out on your own. Rely on Him to meet your needs.

God wants us to ask Him for things. But we need to have the right heart. Riches, honor, and power are worldly pleasures. They can be used for God’s glory, but they certainly bring glory to us.

When the laws are clearly spelled out and everyone knows there will be consequences for breaking them, mercy is optional, but justice is to be expected. No one should complain about getting what they deserve. The guilt is on them, not on the one who handed down the sentence. There is no reason for the judge, jury, or officer to feel guilty for the consequence they must impose because of another person’s crime and there is no reason for the guilty person to be angry about a punishment they know they deserve.

Being the leader doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want, bossing around everyone who follows you. Good leaders submit themselves fully to God. They are servants first. Then, they lead with fairness and truth for the good of those who follow them and for the Lord.

Sometimes we may wish that God had chosen us for something bigger, more important, more public, or more lasting. We may even feel more qualified or like we deserve it more than the person serving in the role you want. But it is not for us to question the Lord’s choice for us or for others. He knows the plans He has for each one of us, and He has His reasons. Instead of wishing we had a different role to play, we should give our all to the purpose He has for us.