Was Solomon Saved!

I believe Solomon was born again. 

God knew what he would do with all the wealth he was given, before He gave it to him. 

I believe the purpose was to show all of mankind what happens when we have much of God's blessing, and begin to justify the things we do because we can pay for it. 

It was the pagan wives that he allowed to come into the palace, that turned his head. 

Remember those were the days that the Holy Spirit did not yet dwell in people as they do now, except at certain times. 

At the end of Solomon's life, he saw the foolishness of his life and wrote a lot in teaching us to avoid attitudes and actions. He saw everything under the sun and called it all "vanity."

Next time we feel compelled to accuse our elders of their failings, perhaps we can remember Solomon and realize, all that he experienced taught him a lot and at the end of his life, he saw that all of it led to nothingness. 

The conclusion was Ecclesiates 12:13;

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

We do not really learn a lesson well without many failings and pratfalls, that teach us much. 

Those that feel a need to protect continually those who are messing up, are missing the whole point of life, and that is to learn from everything we have to go through. 

We can't learn without hurdles, they teach us what the inside really looks like. Our response to difficult things will show us our own heart and what needs prayer, that, as we confess our failings, God will do the work in us. 

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

If we will not confess openly our failings, then God will have to keep bringing the same difficulties until we see them so clearly they can not be denied.  Do we want to continually experience the same pratfalls over and over again?  Isn't it better to admit and learn and go on to the next lesson?  

Prideful America

Can we take a lesson from God's disapproval of His people, how much more will He punish those who are not His people, those who come against His nation.

Jeremiah 11:14
"14 “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster."

It was God's way to cause evil empires to come against His people to induce them to repent. It was also His way that they be punished, who came against them.

We are both, an evil nation and coming against Israel. Where does this leave us? We are in danger of great calamity and overthrow, but still shake our fist in pride crying out "God bless America."

How silly and how foolish of us. We need to stop this prideful mentality that we will get our country back because we think we are so worldly powerful. The best thing we could do is to fall to our knees in repentance, tears and wailing begging God to forgive us, asking nothing of Him, but to be forgiven.

Conversation Controllers

Conversation Controllers

I know of people who snap at others in a disagreement, at the beginning of the disagreement before there is even time to discuss the matter, this is manipulation to intimidate for the purpose of having the upper hand at the onset. It is not love to do this.

These people care more about winning than he/she does about discussing to come to an understanding. Those who will not listen to someone else long enough to hear the whole matter, are selfish, not desiring truth, but only to control the conversation. This person has no love for others to understand them, but only loves himself/herself.

Proverbs 15:32

^“32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.”

Another technique these people use is to talk so long and loud that no one can interject into the conversation. They hold the floor as long as they can until others are discouraged and frustrated. 

There is only one way to handle such people, and that is to walk away and avoid them in the future. As long as they are self absorbed and unwilling to hear others, it will not be possible to reason with them. The acquaintance is completely one sided, making it impossible to have a decent and loving relationship.

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”

Galatians 5:22-23

“²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

 

Galatians 6:8

“⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

 

James 3:14-16

“¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”

 

Luke 9:23-24

“²³ And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever wishes to save his ^[a]life will lose it, but whoever loses his ^[b]life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”

 

When we realize that God can see all that we are doing all the time, we might not be so quick to be rude to others while elevating self. 

 

Proverbs 15:3

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place,  watching the evil and the good.”

 

2 Chronicles 16:9

“⁹ For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”

 

We are running into more and more of these ungodly attitudes of self elevation, mainly because many baby boomers raised their children on self esteem and few if any rules.  Many children were allowed to make their own rules and after becoming adults, they were resistant to having to submit to anyone, even family.  God mandated that we submit one to another in a spirit of helpfulness and love.

 

Ephesians 5:20-26

“²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

 

Lastly, pray for these people, they are insecure and are missing much of life and personal relationships. They have not yet learned that getting our way all the time, while walking over others to do it, will not bring happiness. It only brings heartache to him/her self and destroys good that could occur.