For the week of February 22

Date
February 22, 2021
Author
Mark Lautenschlager
Category
Personal Worship, Study Notes

Welcome to week eight of Desiring the Kingdom and 1 Kings chapter 9. This week brings us to a period after the Temple dedication, as God appears to Solomon in a second vision. His message to Solomon this time is quite different, containing a somber warning, because this is a very different Solomon.

God makes promises to Solomon and the outcome of these promises depends upon how well Solomon and those who come after him remain faithful in worshiping God. You can see where that is heading, right? We are all flawed and broken creatures, and the one guarantee we can make is that at some point we will fail.

Contrast that with the promises God made to us based on the actions of the true King, Jesus Christ, who would keep all of God’s commandments, rules, and statutes perfectly. That’s how we know God’s promises are unchanging and secure.

Which brings us full circle to the big idea of the entire series. The kingdoms of men always fall short because human kings always fail (and by “kingdom” we mean ANY human institution, really). That’s why we desire the Kingdom of God, which the greater King is building in and through his people, a kingdom that will never fall short because it is built on the only perfect King.

Prayer Initiative

Beginning on January 13th and continuing for 11 weeks, Rio Women invites you to join them for their latest prayer initiative, based on the classic book “The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life.” They meet via Zoom call on Wednesdays at noon. If you can’t attend the meeting, get the book, find a partner, and follow along. (If you have questions or need assistance, email Beth Hendrikse, our Prayer Coordinator, at bethh@riovistachurch.com.

Get the Book

STUDY QUESTIONS

Index to Days 2 through 5

Day 1

The Name of the Greater King Consecrates

Observe

God appears to Solomon in a vision, as he did once before at Gibeon. It was during that first appearance that Solomon famously asked God for wisdom. That was the point at which Solomon’s rise to greatness began. This second appearance marks the end of that rise and the beginning of a path to calamity, which God actually predicts in the parallel passage to 1 Kings chapter 9, found in 2 Chronicles chapter 7.

As you read today’s scriptures, consider the amount of time between Solomon’s prayer and this vision in which God answers it. The end of 1 Kings chapter 6 tells us Solomon spent seven years building the Temple and the start of 1 Kings chapter 7 says he spent thirteen years building his own house. Solomon waited YEARS for God to answer his prayer from the Temple dedication. That’s a long time to be wondering whether or not God heard you.

1 Kings 9:1-3

The Lord Appears to Solomon
9 As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king’s house and all that Solomon desired to build, 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

RELATED SCRIPTURES

2 Chronicles 7:11-16
If My People Pray
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished. 12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Romans 15:15-16
15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Hebrews 13:12-16
12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Consider

It wasn’t the contents of the Temple, or Solomon’s fancy words, that consecrated it; God did that by putting his name on it. The New Testament says believers are holy because we have been sanctified by Jesus (sanctify is a verb meaning “to set aside or make holy; consecrate”). The verses from Hebrews chapter 13 spell out the means of that sanctification: Jesus suffered outside the gate (the cross was outside the city walls), using his own blood to sanctify us. The reason we are sanctified isn’t because we stay out of trouble and clean up our lives. While it’s true that we SHOULD, those are a result of sanctification and not the cause of it. God puts his name on us, and because that rests on what Jesus did (and unlike Solomon, Jesus never fails), we can know that even when we do fall, God does not turn away from us.

Questions for Reflection

Think about a time in your life when you felt far away from God and wondered if he had turned his back on you. What means did God use to show you that he still had his name on you?
How does it make you feel to know God’s decision to put his name on you is based on what Jesus did and not what you might be able to do?

Merciful Lord, there is no promise sweeter to me than this. You have given us your name, called us holy, and it rests on Jesus and not on me. What a glorious relief! If there is one thing I know for certain, it’s that I am not perfect and will fail again and again. But your mercy in showing me grace when I didn’t and still don’t deserve it is medicine to my soul in those times when I wonder whether I’ve fallen too far. I stand on the promises you’ve made to me, knowing they are secure because they are built upon the rock, the cornerstone, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah and amen!

Day 2

The Greater King Doesn’t Fail

Observe

God gives Solomon an ominous warning. How different it is from God’s first appearance to Solomon, where he was so pleased with Solomon’s request that he promised him additional blessings. (Of course God knows Solomon will turn away, and lead the people away into worshiping false gods.) God warns that if (when!) Solomon does this, he will cut Israel off from the Promised Land and cast the house he’s just consecrated out of his sight.

1 Kings 9:4-9

4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’”

RELATED SCRIPTURES

Proverbs 16:18
18
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Mark 10:42-45
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:24-30
Who Is the Greatest?
24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 23:1-12
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

James 3:1-2
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

1 Timothy 3:1-5
Qualifications for Overseers
3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Consider

As we keep saying, human kings fail, and when they do they take their kingdoms with them. That is why who you choose to follow is so important. In the New Testament, Jesus turns this king paradigm upside down. A king doesn’t lord it over his people and tell them what to do, a king becomes a servant to his people.

Before you shrug this off by saying we don’t have kings anymore, stop and think. We may not call them kings, but how many times in just RECENT memory (forget going back in history!) have the people of God faced the spectacular failure and complete collapse of leaders with thousands, maybe millions of followers.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul said “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” We follow King Jesus, and while we can additionally choose to follow men and women who are gifted to lead and teach, the key is this: AS THEY FOLLOW CHRIST. When they stop following him, it’s time for us to stop following them.

Questions for Reflection

What are some warning signs that a leader may not be following Christ in a way you should imitate?
What are some positive things you have experienced following men and women who are honestly following Christ themselves?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the leaders we have who are following you with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength! These men and women are incredible blessings to your church. I pray for their protection, from darkness both without and within, and ask that you keep them safe from the weapons of the evil one. I also pray that your people would have discernment and wisdom from your Spirit to be able to see the warning signs before a leader fails. May it even be that such warnings would allow some to be brought back before they’ve wandered too far away. Most of all, let us not lose heart when men and women fail, because we know there is only one perfect man, our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is in his name that we pray. Amen.

Day 3

The Greater King Doesn’t Take Advantage

Observe

Here Solomon’s relationship with King Hiram of Tyre comes under scrutiny. Hiram loved Solomon’s father David, and for that reason he offered to help once Solomon had been made king. This began a relationship in which Solomon gained the upper hand. And with the Solomon of 1 Kings chapter 3, that was fine. But this is Solomon two decades later, and he’s a different guy. He takes all that Hiram gives him, and gives twenty cities in return. Which might sound like a lot, but apparently these were not great cities nor in a great location and Hiram was not satisfied. The word “Cabul,” according to Josephus, is from a Phoenician term meaning “displeasing.” (It also sounds like a Hebrew word meaning worthless.)

Yet Hiram, of whom one commentary wrote “his dominion was small,” wouldn’t break with Solomon and would later lend his expert sailors to help Solomon retrieve even more treasure. Solomon held the power in this relationship, Solomon was the one who abused it, and Solomon would ultimately leverage it in pursuit of wealth.

1 Kings 9:10-14

Solomon’s Other Acts
10 At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king’s house, 11 and Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, as much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him. 13 Therefore he said, “What kind of cities are these that you have given me, my brother?” So they are called the land of Cabul to this day. 14 Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.

RELATED SCRIPTURES

Leviticus 25:35-38
Kindness for Poor Brothers
35 “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. 36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. 37 You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. 38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.

Romans 12:17-21
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Luke 6:32-42
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others
37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Consider

How different was King Solomon back in chapter 3? The humble Solomon who said the only thing he wanted was the wisdom to lead God’s people has given way to a Solomon who is concerned with his wealth and business dealings, and who isn’t afraid to take advantage of relationships to get what he wants.

The greater King, Jesus Christ, is the complete opposite of that. He gives freely to all without seeking his own gain. That’s how God deals with us, it’s the model Jesus gives us for how we should deal with each other, and it stands as a warning for when relationships are not healthy. We do not take advantage of, or abuse relationships with others, nor do we allow the same to happen to us.

Questions for Reflection

Why is it difficult for some of us to see when we are being taken advantage of or abused in a relationship? (Relationships of all kinds, not just romantic. Friendships, business relationships, even relationships with your church should all come under this lens.)
What are some examples of Jesus modeling relationships that do not take advantage of or abuse others?

Dear Lord, you show us the way to healthy relationships. Forgive me for my selfishness that has at times led me to seek my own good or comfort at the expense of someone else. Let me be especially sensitive to the relationships where I have in some way gained that upper hand, open my eyes to be aware of that and give me wisdom to not take advantage in such cases. Open my eyes also to any relationships where the reverse is true, and give me the strength and resolve to correct the imbalance, or to walk away. You do not abuse or take advantage, God, and neither will I, nor will I allow it to happen to me. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Day 4

The Greater King Brings Freedom

Observe

In this next section we find an account of Solomon’s use of forced labor in these building projects. This is an additional detail of something we first read in chapter 5. We noted then that slavery, especially of conquered people, was common in the ancient world.

We should also note that slavery in Israel was different from African slavery in America. Jews in the Old Testament recognized two kinds of slaves, the Eved K’naani (non-Jewish slave) and the Eved Ivri (Jewish slave). The latter was a voluntary arrangement, where the slave became an indentured servant for a set period of time, usually to pay off a debt, but in some cases simply because he or she was unable to afford to live in any other way. There were laws to ensure that slaves were well cared for. And even in the case of non-Jewish slaves, if a slave fled their master the Israelite authorities would get involved and offer the slave owner a choice: set them free with an IOU for the slave’s monetary worth or the authorities would simply annul the enslavement. Either way, if a slave fled their master, they would be freed.

That being said, there is a reason why this is an account of FORCED labor. Solomon did not give these workers any choice as to whether or not they wanted to become laborers for his cause. There is no way in which this was a wise decision on his part. Solomon mistreated these forced laborers and that mistreatment would eventually lead to conflict that would literally tear the kingdom apart.

1 Kings 9:15-23

15 And this is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon drafted to build the house of the Lord and his own house and the Millo and the wall of Jerusalem and Hazor and Megiddo and Gezer 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and had killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife; 17 so Solomon rebuilt Gezer) and Lower Beth-horon 18 and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, 19 and all the store cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 20 All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel— 21 their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel were unable to devote to destruction—these Solomon drafted to be slaves, and so they are to this day. 22 But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves. They were the soldiers, they were his officials, his commanders, his captains, his chariot commanders and his horsemen.

23 These were the chief officers who were over Solomon’s work: 550 who had charge of the people who carried on the work.

RELATED SCRIPTURES

Exodus 21:1-11
Laws About Slaves
21 “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

Ephesians 6:5-9
Bondservants and Masters
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Philippians 2:3-11
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Consider

In a manner of speaking we are all slaves to something. For most of us, it’s probably a desire for comfort or pleasure. Self-denial isn’t a popular pastime. Other things that might enslave us (money, for example) usually come down to a means to provide for comfort or pleasure. Even those who believe themselves completely free in all respects are still a slave to the final master: death. You can free yourself of everything else (perhaps, but we’ll give it to you for the sake of the conversation), but the grave will ultimately claim us all. Only Jesus offers freedom from that final master. He offers freedom from everything else, too, but he alone offers a way past the grave. The greater King, Jesus Christ, did this by humbling himself to become a slave and dying on the cross in our place. The greater King doesn’t make slaves, he frees them.

Questions for Reflection

What still holds you in chains, despite your best efforts?
What would need to happen for those chains to break? (Regardless of whether or not that’s something you believe you could achieve on your own. We’re talking about God here.)

Dear God, I know precisely what it is that keeps me in chains. I’ve wrestled with it for what feels like a million times and confessed it, well, if I’m honest, somewhat less than a million times. There have been seasons where I’ve just given up, weary of the struggle. Sometimes, in my dark moments, I blame you for not breaking the chains for me. I know that’s just my flesh being angry that you haven’t given me the easy way out. But it’s hard to keep up the battle sometimes. God, please give me the strength to die to myself just a little bit more every day. Let me find pleasure in the things that YOU desire, so they may become the desires of my heart as well, and you might be pleased in giving them to me. Thank you for mercies that are new every morning. Thank you that one day, I will be free from every chain and in your presence forever. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 5

The Greater King Values Treasure In Heaven

Observe

The end of chapter 9 records the expansion of Solomon’s wealth through international commerce. 420 talents is nearly 16 TONS of gold, and even though some commentaries suggest that number might be exaggerated, we’re talking about a LOT of treasure.

1 Kings 9:24-28

24 But Pharaoh’s daughter went up from the city of David to her own house that Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

25 Three times a year Solomon used to offer up burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he built to the Lord, making offerings with it before the Lord. So he finished the house.

26 King Solomon built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, seamen who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they went to Ophir and brought from there gold, 420 talents, and they brought it to King Solomon.

RELATED SCRIPTURES

Luke 12:13-34
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Be Anxious
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 19:16-30
The Rich Young Man
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Matthew 6:19-21
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Proverbs 30:7-9
7
Two things I ask of you;
    deny them not to me before I die:
8
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
    give me neither poverty nor riches;
    feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9
lest I be full and deny you
    and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
    and profane the name of my God.

Consider

Wealth isn’t a bad thing. God obviously chooses to bless some people with considerable amounts of it. In Matthew and Luke, we hear from Jesus on the subject. His concern wasn’t as much with how much money someone had as it was with how it captured their heart. Although Solomon didn’t set out seeking wealth, God still blessed him with it, and it would seem as though Solomon grew fond of it. His great wisdom and vast intellect was now deployed to the world of commerce and generating wealth. The greater King doesn’t measure wealth in dollars and cents.

Questions for Reflection

Why does money capture the hearts of people so easily?
What can we do, therefore, to guard our hearts against the lure of money?

Heavenly Father, in the book of Proverbs it is said that I shouldn’t want poverty or riches because either extreme can begin to run my life. If I’m being honest, I’d rather take a chance on the riches than the poverty, but I see the wisdom in having just enough. I am grateful for those who you have blessed with abundance and given a heart to use it for your glory. May we all work as one for the sake of true wealth, found not in dollars and cents but in the souls of your people. In Jesus name, amen.

Watch for other Personal Worship pushes!

Friday you’ll receive Worship Prep guidance and Sunday’s songs. Take time to learn those you don’t know so that you can join in worship in full voice!