WHAT MANNER OF MAN ARE YOU? – SOLOMON

Bad boys can come from the loins of good men; therefore, fathers must get involved in the lives of their sons and, by a good example, teach them good and godly values that will help them in life. Boaz was Solomon’s forefather, but they were very different. Solomon gradually turned away from God after marrying many foreign women and serving their gods. Let us look at Solomon:

Source of Power/Wealth: Solomon inherited wealth and power from his father. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. All he had to do was manage and grow the empire.

Scope of Power: He was the King of the whole nation of Israel. He handled diplomatic relations, developmental projects, the judiciary, and a massive workforce. He engaged in crop and animal husbandry, and the finance ministry was under his management.

Use of Power: He demonstrated insecurity in eliminating perceived enemies. He lived in luxury. Although he used his power to serve the people, he enlisted almost all of Israel into his labor force. He was too task-oriented to be mindful of staff welfare and dealt with his people with a firm hand – I Kings 12:4. However, he built the economy and a place for God.

Work-Life-Family Balance: Solomon was wise and astute in business. He was a pleasure seeker who satisfied his lust. In spite of the responsibility of the crown, Solomon had time to relax, compose songs, and read books. However, his family life was in shambles; the weight of the work made him feel he deserved pleasure, which led him into promiscuity. Success and power often make men think they are entitled to the love of more women than one, which results in their undoing.

Legacy: Solomon neglected to mentor his next generation because of wealth and nation-building. He did not invest time in training the person that would succeed him. Power and pleasure blinded him to the reality of life’s brevity and his legacy. In Ecclesiastes 2:18-19, he worried if the person that would succeed and inherit him would be wise or foolish.” He finally left the throne to his son, Rehoboam, who later lost almost all through foolishness. All he learned from his father was driving the labor force, which he took to a new level.

Relationship with God: Solomon loved the Lord but adored foreign women and their idols. These eventually polluted his love for God and led him away from God. Solomon went into unholy political power and alliances; he unwittingly mixed anointings. You can’t do God and do sin or join a cult for power. You either have to be hot or cold.

ADDITIONAL STUDY
Proverbs 22:6, Ecclesiastes 12:13 & James 4:4

REFLECTION
Do not separate God from your business. Do not mix anointings – do God in church, but get involved in despicable and shady deals to get ahead in life or secure a business deal. You will end up paying for it later. If the foundations get destroyed, what can the righteous do? Therefore, ask God to change you and put in your heart and hands what you will give to your next generation – the legacy, the values, the word, a business, wealth. God wants to repair your foundation today.