distraction

A Vessel of Honor

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20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. – 2 Timothy 2:20-26 ESV

Quarrelsome words. Irreverent babble. Gangrenous talk.

Paul pulled no punches when describing the erroneous teaching that was influencing and infecting the church in Ephesus. To Paul, it was like a deadly disease slowly spreading through the congregation, causing some to doubt their true spiritual condition. The doctrinal errors propagated by individuals like Hymenaeus and Philetus ran contrary to the message Paul had preached about the truth of the gospel.

Paul informed Timothy that he had the unenviable, but necessary responsibility of addressing this problem by “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV). He encouraged his young protegé to do his job with an eye toward seeking the approval of God, not men.

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. – 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT

Telling people what they want to hear might help Timothy win over some of the dissenters in the congregation, but it would not score him any points with God. As a minister of the gospel, Timothy was responsible to teach the truth, regardless of how his audience responded; he answered to God. And Paul reminded Timothy that “God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil’” (2 Timothy 2:19 NLT).

The congregation in Ephesus was confused. With men like Hymenaeus and Philetus teaching contrary doctrine and sowing seeds of doubt and dissent, it had become difficult to tell who was telling the truth. But Paul emphasized that God knew; the Shepherd knows His sheep, and those who belong to the flock of God were expected to “turn away from evil.” As in any congregation, the fellowship in Ephesus was comprised of both the faithful and the unfaithful.

There were those who adhered to the truth of God and sought to abstain from evil, and those who “swerved from the truth” (2 Timothy 2:18 ESV) and, in doing so, embraced wickedness. This led Paul to use yet another illustration to help Timothy understand what he faced in Ephesus.

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. – 2 Timothy 2:20 ESV

This simple analogy was intended to expose the diverse composition of any local congregation. In a church, as in a fine home, it is only natural to find both honorable and dishonorable “vessels.” This is not a reference to the saved and the lost. Paul focuses on the word “honorable,” which in Greek refers to “value” or “esteem.”

Paul’s point is that God deems honorable those who rightly divide the word of truth; they meet His approval. But those who twist and distort the truth are viewed as dishonorable or unworthy. A wealthy homeowner would not use clay dishes to serve his dinner guests. To do so would dishonor himself and his guests. And God will not use those individuals who distort the truth of the gospel because to do so would bring dishonor to His name.

The primary issue here is that of holiness, or the state of being set apart. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ have been set apart by God for His use. Having been saved by God through the sacrificial death of His Son, they now belong to Him.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT

Those who belong to God are expected to honor Him. But when a believer embraces teaching that is contrary to God’s truth or commits sins that are unacceptable for God’s children, he renders himself unfit for service. Paul is not teaching that a believer can lose his salvation; He is simply stating that a Christian can fail to live a set-apart life by choosing to follow the desires of their sinful nature. When they do, they disqualify themselves from service to God. But Paul also says disqualification can result from believing or teaching false doctrine. He insists that this “irreverent babble…will lead people into more and more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16 ESV).

The word “irreverent” is the Greek word bebēlos, which refers to something “common” or “unholy.” It contradicts being set apart by God for His honor and glory. In veering from the truth of God and encouraging others to follow suit, a believer renders themself unfit for His service. They become common rather than holy or, as Paul put it, they become a vessel for dishonor rather than honor. And to ensure Timothy doesn’t miss his point, Paul puts his warning in practical, everyday terms his young disciple can understand.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. – 2 Timothy 2:22 NLT

Paul challenges Timothy to live a set-apart life; to live in a way that reflected his status as a new creation in Christ. He was to seek the company of those who shared his desire to live a holy life.

But Paul wasn’t telling Timothy to form a “holy huddle,” an elite group of super-serious Christians who chose to sequester themselves away from the less honorable members of the congregation. Paul wanted Timothy to teach and train up a group of believers who would positively influence the rest of the church body through their words and actions. Rather than pick a fight with those who disagreed with them, they were to “Gently instruct those who oppose the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25 NLT). The goal was to provide loving instruction with an eye toward reconciliation.

Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. – 2 Timothy 2:25-26 NLT

In Paul’s mind, the “dishonorable” vessel was not doomed to remain that way; he could be renewed and restored. Every believer is responsible to compassionately care for those who stray from the truth.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. – Galatians 6:1 NLT

Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister. – 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 NLT

Paul greatly desired that the church be marked by a spirit of unity and solidarity. But he knew that the sinful natures of those who made up the church could make that difficult. But he also knew that the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit provided every believer with an ample source of power to overcome sin and resist the lies of the enemy. But Timothy, as a minister of the gospel, would need to set the example, modeling the life of an honorable vessel, “set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21 ESV).

Father, You saved us so that we would bring You honor, and You placed Your Spirit within us so we would have a constant source of guidance and power to make it possible. Thankfully, You didn’t leave the goal of our sanctification up to us or it would never happen. We can’t transform ourselves into the likeness of Your Son, but that doesn’t absolve us of the responsibility to cooperate with Your Spirit and to make godliness our primary goal. As a follower of Christ, I should want to honor You with my life because of all You have done for me. Seeking to faithfully follow Your will should motivate all that I do. But it requires that I know the truth and that I refuse to veer from it. Yet, the world is constantly selling a different version of the truth designed to produce compromise and complacency among Your children. The enemy constantly seeks to distort Your Word through the subtle dissemination of plausible lies and convincing half-truths. It all sounds good but it doesn’t produce honorable vessels. Those who buy into the lies end up shipwrecking their faith and rendering themselves unfit for service in Your Kingdom. Open my eyes to see the battle raging all around me and to recognize the enemy’s deceptive attempts to lure me away from the path of righteousness. I want to be “set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21 ESV). Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Faithful to the End

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1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself. – 2 Timothy 2:1-13 ESV

Paul, an older and more experienced minister of the gospel, pours out his heart to his young protégé, Timothy, to prepare him for what lies ahead. Paul was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting a hearing before the emperor, and he knew that his fate, while in God’s hands, could end poorly. He had no delusions that he would receive a fair and just trial at the hands of the Romans. The Jews had been relentless in their efforts to hold Paul accountable for what they considered to be his disruptive and divisive ministry, and would do everything in their power to seek the death penalty for Paul.

As he sat in jail awaiting his hearing, Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, telling them, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21 ESV). He knew that his days were numbered and that death was inevitable. But his greatest concern was to honor Christ, whether through ministry or martyrdom.

As Paul penned this letter to Timothy, he must have thought about the message he received from Christ after praying on three different occasions for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed. Jesus had told him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). And this promise from the Savior had prompted Paul to respond, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).

The power of Christ, made available through His grace, was all Paul needed, and it gave him an overwhelming sense of confidence and peace, regardless of the circumstances he faced.

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:11-13 NLT

Now, Paul was passing on the promise of Christ’s grace to Timothy. He told him to “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1 ESV). Timothy was in a difficult spot, ministering to the fledgling congregation in Ephesus while his mentor sat behind bars in Rome. He was on his own, surrounded by hostile forces that opposed his ministry and message. He also faced dissension in the ranks as some of his own parishioners began to question their decision to follow Christ. Persecution and difficulty had begun to set in, causing some to lose faith, like Phygelus and Hermogenes, who had abandoned Paul in Asia.

Paul wanted Timothy to understand that he was no longer the disciple, but had moved into the role of disciple-maker. His days of serving as Paul’s assistant were behind him. Now it was time for him to step up and embrace his responsibilities as a minister of the gospel; that would require Timothy to raise up others to assist him in his work. Paul had chosen Timothy and determined to teach and train him for gospel ministry; now it was time for Timothy to take the baton and run the next leg of the race on his own. But he was not to run alone. Paul encouraged Timothy to “teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (2 Timothy 2:2 NLT).

This was all about propagating and multiplying the ministry by raising up others who could share the burden. Jesus told His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:37-38 NLT). But asking God to supply workers also comes with a responsibility to train them in the disciplines of harvesting, and that would require discipline on Timothy’s part. A landowner would not send inexperienced or untrained workers into his fields to harvest his crops; he would ensure they were trained to do the job well so every ounce of grain was gleaned. No loss. No waste.

Paul drives home the seriousness of Timothy’s role as a disciple-maker with three analogies. First, he compares Timothy to a soldier, who faithfully fulfills his duties, undistracted by the cares of this world.

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. – 2 Timothy 2:3-4 NLT

A distracted soldier will prove to be a disloyal soldier. If Timothy allows himself to become preoccupied with the things of this world, he will lose sight of his God-ordained mission. This is what Jesus warned His disciples about when He said, “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it” (Matthew 10:37-39 NLT).

Discipleship, like military service, requires a commitment that carries a high cost. Part-time soldiers make less-than-ideal warriors because they lack commitment to the cause. They tend to let other responsibilities distract them from their mission. And, in the same way, believers can allow their love for the things of this world to render them less-than-successful disciple-makers.

The next analogy Paul uses is that of an athlete. This imagery was a favorite of Paul’s, and he used it repeatedly to illustrate the commitment required to live the Christian life.

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! – 1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. – Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. – 2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

Living the Christian life requires perseverance and determination; no easy paths lead to the finish line, and there are no shortcuts. As Paul warns Timothy, victory is impossible if the runner fails to follow the rules. Timothy was not free to fudge on the God-ordained regulations established for the Christian life. He couldn’t take the path of least resistance and still expect to win the prize at the end of the race. Avoiding difficulty, taking shortcuts in the pursuit of spiritual growth, and running the race just to finish rather than to win are unacceptable. God demands more.

Paul’s final analogy entails farming, highlighting the obvious life lesson that hard work has its rewards.

…hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. – 2 Timothy 2:6 NLT

In an agrarian culture, laziness could be a death sentence. The farmer who failed to plow and plant could not expect to reap a harvest. But the diligent farmer, who put in the required labor to prepare his fields and plant his crops at the proper time, would enjoy the fruits of his labors. It was only natural, logical, and fair. Paul wanted Timothy to know that the Christian life also required commitment, diligence, perseverance, and hard work. And just in case Timothy missed the very obvious point behind Paul’s three analogies, he assures him that “the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Timothy 2:7 ESV).

Then, as if out of nowhere, Paul changes the topic altogether, shifting his focus to Christ and His resurrection from the dead. But his point remains the same. He is simply using Jesus, “the offspring of David” (2 Timothy 2:8 ESV), as an example of someone who lived a life fully committed to God’s plan for His life. Jesus was a descendant of King David and the rightful heir to the throne, yet He willingly suffered on behalf of sinful mankind so He could become the sinless substitute and selfless source of salvation for all who would believe in Him. Jesus never shirked His God-given responsibility to serve as the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, “becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8 ESV).

Paul also uses himself as an example of someone who refused to compromise his convictions or cut corners in his spiritual life. After all, he was writing this letter from prison, bound by chains, and facing a trial on trumped-up charges intended to result in a death sentence. But Paul boldly proclaimed, “I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen” (2 Timothy 2:10 NLT).

Paul’s bottom line was that faithlessness has no place in the believer’s life. Jesus Christ had sacrificed Himself so that we might live in newness of life. He provided us with the Holy Spirit as a permanent source of power and direction. His death assures us of eternal life, and our endurance in this life comes with the guarantee of an inheritance in the next life. But even if we fail to remain faithful, Jesus Christ will never fail to keep His promise to keep and preserve us.

…if we are faithless, he remains faithful. – 2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize,
But as those who’ve gone before us.
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

(“Find Us Faithful” – Written by Jon Mohr, performed by Steve Green (From the 1988 album, Find Us Faithful).)

Father, I want to remain faithful — to the end, but it is so easy to get distracted by the cares and concerns of this world. And it doesn’t require a love for the world; even our daily responsibilities and commitments can cause us to lose our perspective and focus. Good things can keep us from accomplishing our mission. That’s why Paul’s words to Timothy are so convicting. Timothy had a mother and grandmother who loved him deeply. He had friends and family members who depended upon him. But Paul was calling him to something higher and greater. He wasn’t asking Timothy to abandon his responsiblities as a son or friend, but he was demanding that he not lose sight of his priorities. Like a dedicated farmer, faithful soldier, or committed athlete, Timothy was to keep the main thing the main thing. His calling by Christ was to take precedence over anything else in his life. I can’t help but think of the shocking words Jesus spoke to His disciples. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26 ESV). He wasn’t calling His followers to literally hate their family members; He was demanding a sold-out commitment to Him that allowed nothing or no one to stand in the way. A farmer will not allow his own child’s birthday keep him from planting his crops. A soldier will refuse leave to visit his family if he knows his platoon is headed into battle. An athlete will pass up breakfast with a friend if it means missing a workout. That is the kind of commitment Jesus was calling for. And that is the way I want to live my life: Dedicated, determined, and undistracted. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Goal of Godliness

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1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. – 1 Timothy 6:1-10 ESV

As Paul wraps up his letter to Timothy, he focuses on godliness, a topic near and dear to his heart as a pastor. The Greek word for “godliness” is eusebeia (εὐσέβεια), and it refers to piety or reverence for God. In essence, godliness is the outward expression of one’s belief in God.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul declared his love for them and reminded them of his constant prayers for their spiritual well-being.

I have not stopped thanking God for you.  I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. – Ephesians 1:16-17 NLT

He knew that the key to their spiritual health would be their continued growth in godliness; the increase in their knowledge of and reverence for God.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. – Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

Their belief in God included belief in the power He had made available to them. Through their faith in Jesus Christ, they had access to the very same power that raised the crucified body of Jesus back to life. And that same power could and should produce similarly miraculous changes in their own lives. In coming to faith in Christ, they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit and received access to His supernatural power and gifts. Paul reminded the believers in Rome, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” (Romans 8:11 NLT).

In Chapter 3, Paul referred to godliness as a mystery (mystērion). He declared that at one time, the key to attaining godliness was hidden from men; anyone’s ability to truly know and revere God was hindered. It wasn’t that they couldn’t have a relationship with God; it simply meant their ability to draw near to God was hampered by indwelling sin. That was the whole reason for the sacrificial system. Sin separated mankind from God, and sacrifices were required to atone for those sins. But all that changed when Jesus, the Son of God, took on human flesh. That was Paul’s point in Chapter 3.

He was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated by the Spirit,
        seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
    believed on in the world,
        taken up in glory. – 1 Timothy 3:16 ESV

The sinless Son of God became a man and lived a perfectly godly life. He demonstrated love and reverence by fully obeying His Father’s will. Paul emphasized Jesus’ godly behavior in his letter to the church in Philippi.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
   he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

Paul challenged the Philippians to “have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5 NLT). They were to model their lives after Christ’s humility, obedience, and selfless sacrifice for the good of others.

Paul firmly believed that true godliness should make a difference in the way the believers in Ephesus lived their lives. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead was available to them through the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God. To demonstrate the practical necessity of godliness, Paul addressed three different groups of people in the church in Ephesus. His point was to remind Timothy that the Christian faith was to be a practical part of everyday life and to make a difference in how believers lived and interacted with the world around them.

First, he addressed slaves, specifically those slaves who had come to faith in Christ and were now part of the body of Christ. Slavery was a ubiquitous part of the Ephesian culture, and slaves lived and worked in the community and worshiped within the congregation in Ephesus. Some of them had been sold into slavery, while others had been forced into servitude because they were unable to pay their debts. These slaves would have come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, and included Jews and Gentiles. But the ones to whom Paul referred were believing slaves; those who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ and were now part of the local fellowship in Ephesus. Paul encouraged Timothy to teach them to respect their masters and work diligently. Paul doesn’t condemn slavery or attempt to disrupt the social fabric of his day. He didn’t condone or condemn the practice; he simply wanted those affected by it to live in a way that honored God and illustrated godly behavior.

In his letter to Philemon, a Christian slave owner and a prominent leader of the local church in Colossae, Paul asked him to welcome back Onesimus, a slave who had run away and become a believer. Paul encouraged Philemon to see Onesimus differently.

…he is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. – Philemon 1:16 NLT

From a legal standpoint, Onesimus was still a slave. Coming to faith in Christ had set him free from sin but not from slavery. In the cultural context of his day, Onesimus remained a slave and Philemon’s legal property.

Coming to faith in Christ does not always change our circumstances, but it does alter how we should respond and conduct our lives in the midst of them. For Paul, the godly behavior of these believing slaves was paramount.

…slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. – 1 Timothy 6:1 NLT

As believers, the way they responded to their enslavement would demonstrate their reverence for God. It would reflect their belief in and reliance upon God. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul discussed the need for believers to prioritize their status as God’s children over their circumstances, and he included slavery in his list.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ESV

The next group Paul addressed were false teachers, those who refuted his teaching and stirred up “arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions” (1 Timothy 6:4 NLT). These individuals were arrogant and lacked true understanding; they had turned their backs on the truth of God and were concocting their own version of spiritual reality. Their motivation was purely selfish and financially driven. Paul said, “to them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy” (1 Timothy 6:5 NLT). Their ministry was based on what they could get out of it, and their godliness was all for show.

But Paul understood godliness differently. It was the objective, not a means to an end, and it was not to be used as a device to gain respect, power, or financial gain. Godliness was sufficient in and of itself, and when accompanied by contentment, it proved more than profitable to an individual’s life.

…true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. – 1 Timothy 6:6 NLT

That’s why a godly slave could remain a slave and be content with his lot in life. Circumstances have little to do with godliness and should have virtually no impact on the degree of our contentment. Godliness does not depend on material possessions or personal circumstances. The godly individual does not rely upon the accumulation of things to find contentment. That is why Paul wrote, “So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content” (1 Timothy 6:8 NLT). The false teachers were motivated by money, but the godly are motivated by Christ.

Paul ends this section by talking about those who display an inordinate love for money. Each of these three groups was part of the church in Ephesus. Slaves, false teachers, and lovers of money were participating in the body of Christ, but not all who had a love affair with money were false teachers. Some in the church were wealthy and desired more, while others were poor and dreamed of becoming rich. In both cases, the love of money could prove to be dangerous.

…people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. – 1 Timothy 6:9 NLT

They lacked contentment and had made the accumulation of wealth their goal, rather than godliness. Money was their provider and protector, putting it in place of God. But notice that Paul does not condemn money or wealth. He simply points out that loving it and obsessing over it can be harmful to the believer. The love of money can have devastating consequences on a believer’s pursuit of godliness.

True godliness is accompanied by contentment. Desiring anything other than Christ can be deadly to the believer. Craving something other than Christ to fulfill our need for contentment, joy, and hope can also harm our spiritual maturity. Slaves were to be content with their circumstances and live godly lives right where they were. The false teachers needed to be content with the truth of God’s Word and the message of Jesus Christ, just as it had been preached to them. They also needed to live godly lives without expecting any financial reward in return. Those who viewed money as their savior were to be content with their current financial status and live godly lives regardless of how little or how much money they possessed.

Godliness combined with contentment is the real currency of God’s Kingdom. Like circumstances, money can be unsteady and unreliable; both can change on a whim. And any version of the truth that doesn’t align with the Word of God will never produce godliness. For Paul, a life without godliness was to be considered unthinkable for the child of God.

Father, in another one of his letters, Paul wrote, “God’s will is for you to be holy” (1 thessalonians 4:3 NLT). You want us to be “godly” because You are godly and, as Your children, we are to reflect Your character. But so many things interfere with our pursuit of godliness. The world offers up a panoply of tempting alternatives, from money and materialism to popularity and fame. We are constantly bombarded by messages that appeal to our need for significance and meaning. The enemy wants to distract us from the truth with shiny baubles and tempting treats that promise us happiness, health, purpose, power, influence, and fulfillment. But they never come deliver. Yet, even as believers, we wrongly assume that a change in our circumstances is the key to contentment. If only I had more money, I would be happy. If my problem would go away, my life would be so much better. If more people liked me, I wouldn’t be so lonely. But they’re all lies, promoted by the enemy and designed to distract us from our real need for godliness. Wake us up. Open our eyes. Help us see that godliness really is the key to contentment, It’s not an option; it’s a non-negotiable necessity, and until we make it our highest priority, we will continue to fixate on our circumstances and wrongly believe that a change for the better would make us happier. Or we will falsely assume that more is better, more money, friends, possessions, popularity, and power. But consumption and accumulation are not the answer, godliness is. But as Paul said, godliness must be accompanied by contentment. You are enough, Your Son is sufficient, and the Spirit is all we need for life and godliness. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Blinded by the Blessings

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14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that which came from the explorers and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the west and from the governors of the land. 16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels of gold went into each shield. 17 And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 18 The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, 20 while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom. 21 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

23 Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24 And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 25 Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27 And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 28 And Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s traders received them from Kue at a price. 29 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver and a horse for 150, and so through the king’s traders they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. – 1 Kings 10:14-29 ESV

Up to this point in his narrative of Solomon’s reign, the author of 1 Kings seems to have spent far more time describing Solomon’s vast wealth than providing evidence of his great wisdom. He has only offered one concrete example where Solomon utilized his God-given gift of wisdom to settle a dispute between two prostitutes who were fighting over legal custody of a newborn baby (1 Kings 3:16-28). There have been several allusions to Solomon’s wisdom, such as the statement made by the Queen of Sheba.

“Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true! I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told.” – 1 Kings 10:6-7 NLT

However, it appears that the author has intentionally placed more emphasis on Solomon’s rapidly expanding financial portfolio. God had promised to bless Solomon with riches and honor (1 Kings 3:13), and it is evident that He had kept His word. In just a single year, nearly 25 tons of gold were added to Solomon’s treasury. That’s a staggering figure, but it represents only a fraction of the revenue that flowed into the kingdom each year. Income from his many business ventures, tributes paid by vassal states, and gifts from various kings and dignitaries further enhanced his annual revenue. His proverbial cup was running over.

People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. Year after year everyone who visited brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. – 1 Kings 10:24-25 NLT

As a result, “King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth” (1 Kings 10:23 NLT). It seems that his wisdom and wealth shared a symbiotic relationship. Both were gifts that had been made possible by God. Yet, like all God-given gifts, the real test lies in how they are utilized. Both wisdom and wealth can be misused and abused. Any gift from God can be used for ungodly purposes. It seems that Solomon allowed his wisdom and wealth to become a distraction. Somewhere along the way, he had lost sight of the divine purpose for his gifts — to govern the people of Israel with justice (1 Kings 3:11). He began to repurpose his wisdom and riches in a vain search for meaning in life. He would later write of his growing disenchantment with the pursuit of pleasure and prosperity.

I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. – Ecclesiastes 2:9-11 NLT

Notice how many times Solomon uses the personal pronoun “I.” He had become totally self-consumed, focusing all his attention on what he could gain from what he had been given. Even his God-given wisdom became little more than a tool for trying to decipher the mysteries of life. While he understood wisdom’s inherent value, it wasn’t long before he came to despise this valuable gift from God.

Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!” For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.

So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 3:14-17 NLT

Twenty years after ascending to the throne of his father, David, Solomon was experiencing unparalleled success. He had the Midas touch. It seems that everything he touched turned to literal gold. In fact, gold was so prevalent in his kingdom that “silver was considered worthless in Solomon’s day” (1 Kings 10:21 NLT).

Solomon had built his own fleet of ships, which returned every three years with their holds full of additional treasures, including “gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks” (1 Kings 10:22 NLT). He had amassed “a huge force of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses” ( 1 Kings 10:26 NLT). And many of those horses had been imported from as far away as Egypt.

All of these descriptions of Solomon’s incredible wealth must be placed within the context of the commands God had given concerning those who would serve as kings over His people.

“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.” – Deuteronomy 17:16-17 NLT

God had blessed Solomon with unparalleled resources, but Solomon used them in ways that were contradictory to God’s will. His misuse of God’s gracious gift was in clear violation of God’s command. Solomon’s wealth had never been intended to feed his ego or fulfill his wildest dreams. It was meant to enable him to provide the people of Israel with proper care and protection. While accumulating chariots and horses may have sounded like a good strategy for ensuring Israel’s national security, it was in direct violation of God’s will. Solomon’s own father had written about the futility of placing one’s hope in such things.

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright. – Psalm 20:6-8 NLT

Solomon appears to have been preoccupied with the outward trappings of royalty. He had built for himself an opulent palace, where exquisite meals were served on golden plates and the finest wine was served in golden goblets. Oppulence was prevalent in Solomon’s kingdom. He spared no expense, spending vast sums of money on frivolous things like decorative shields made of gold and a one-of-a-kind royal throne of incomparable value

Then the king made a huge throne, decorated with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. The throne had six steps and a rounded back. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, and the figure of a lion stood on each side of the throne. There were also twelve other lions, one standing on each end of the six steps. No other throne in all the world could be compared with it! – 1 Kings 10:18-20 NLT

Solomon looked like a king and lived like one. He had all the trappings of success and, from the outsider’s perspective, was living the dream. Yet, the day would come when Solomon finally recognized that he had confused the gift with the Giver.

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! – Ecclesiastes 10-11 NLT

The wisdom and wealth given to him by God had never been intended to fulfill his every self-centered desire or satiate his relentless need for self-satisfaction. Solomon had been anointed and blessed so that he might lead the nation of Israel into a period of peace, prosperity, and faithful service to God. Solomon had started out well, even asking God for the capacity to lead the people of Israel with wisdom and discernment.

“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” – 1 Kings 3:9 NLT

But somewhere along the way, Solomon let the blessings of God go to his head. He had allowed the gifts to take precedence over the Giver and, in doing so, turned the blessings of God into a curse. His insatiable appetite for success and significance would turn his heart away from God. His relentless pursuit of pleasure and personal comfort would distract him from fulfilling his God-given purpose. Yahweh had set him on the throne to promote godliness and faithfulness among the people of Israel.

“…if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever.” – 1 Kings 9:4-5 NLT

But God’s promise to extend the Davidic dynasty came with a crucial conditional clause.

“But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations.” – 1 Kings 9:6-7 NLT

And as the next chapter unfolds, the outcome of Solomon’s pursuit of pleasure, prosperity, and prestige will become painfully apparent. He would have been wise to heed the words of Moses, spoken to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the land of Canaan.

“Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.  – Deuteronomy 8:18-19 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Danger of Misplaced Priorities

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1 Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD.

3 Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. – 1 Kings 3:1-4 ESV

Chapter two ended with the words, “So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon” (1 Kings 2:36-46 ESV). He had successfully completed his purging of those who had played a part in the failed coup attempt that would have robbed him of his right to the throne. He had also kept his father’s dying wish and brought to justice a small list of individuals whom David had declared worthy of judgment.

However, the opening verses of Chapter 3 introduce a shift in tone and purpose to the historical narrative. David has died, and the reign of his son has begun. The last vestiges of David’s influence have been removed, and Solomon has the opportunity to start his rule on his own terms. It is interesting to note that the author records Solomon’s first official act as king as an alliance he made with the Egyptians. The Pharaoh of Egypt sealed their agreement by giving Solomon the hand of his daughter in marriage.

The matter-of-fact manner in which this news is conveyed gives the impression that it was nothing more than an official act of business on the part of the royal administration. Making treaties and alliances was a necessary part of being a king, and marital alliances were commonplace among the nations of the world at that time. But there is something ominous and prophetic about the news of Solomon’s first official act as king. Any Jew who read this historical record would have recognized it.

Long before Israel had a king, God provided His chosen people with a list of prohibitions concerning the behavior of any man who would rule over them. He knew that the kingly role would come with all kinds of temptations and snares. The power and prestige that accompanied the crown would prove to be addictive and dangerous. Therefore, God provided His people with non-negotiable rules to govern and regulate the actions of the kings of Israel.

“You are about to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think, ‘We should select a king to rule over us like the other nations around us.’ If this happens, be sure to select as king the man the LORD your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.

“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the LORD has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.” – Deuteronomy 17:14-17 NLT

As a precautionary measure, God commanded that any man who ruled as king over Israel was to have a personal copy of the Mosaic Law, which he was to read from daily.

“This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.” – Deuteronomy 17:21 NLT

Notice that the king was prohibited from accumulating all the usual trappings of kingly success. All Israelite kings were to be different, refusing to model their administration on the nations around them. Stables filled with fine horses, treasuries overflowing with great wealth, and palaces full of wives and concubines were off-limits to the kings of Israel. Yahweh also forbade His kings from doing any business with Egypt, even denying them the right to buy horses from their former enemies. Yet, one of the first decisions Solomon made as king was to broker a deal with the Pharaoh of Egypt that would set a dangerous precedent for his reign.

While the author provides no immediate commentary regarding Solomon’s actions, he later reveals the sinister and infectious nature of this decision.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD. – 1 Kings 11:1-3 NLT

Something is foreboding in the statement that Solomon “brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem” (1 Kings 3:1 ESV). One of his very first acts as king was to bring this foreign-born, pagan princess into the city of David, where her presence would have a profound impact not only on him but also on the entire kingdom. Solomon had not even taken the time to build a palace or begun construction on the Temple for Yahweh, for which his father had provided the funding. He had taken no action to expand and protect the city of Jerusalem through the construction of defensive walls.

But the author clearly states that “Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father” (1 Kings 3:3 ESV). Yet, it will become increasingly more apparent that Solomon suffered from divided allegiances. Notice the critical contrast between the following verses.

Solomon loved the LORD… 1 Kings 3:3

King Solomon loved many foreign wives… – 1 Kings 11:1

God had warned that any king who accumulated many wives for himself would run the risk of having his heart turned away from the LORD. His love for Yahweh would be distracted and diminished. Because Solomon prioritized forming an alliance with Egypt over building a house for God, he ultimately had to make offerings and sacrifices on the high places (1 Kings 3:3). As a result, his worship became diluted and polytheistic. As will become evident, many of these high places were actually the former sites of pagan shrines to false gods. The Israelites had repurposed them for the worship of Yahweh, but God had given Solomon the responsibility and privilege of constructing a permanent Temple where all worship and sacrifices were to be made. David had provided Solomon with everything he needed to build the Temple, from the construction plans to the financial resources to pay for it. And David had warned Solomon to make this task a high priority.

“So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”

Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement. David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the LORD’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the LORD. The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the LORD. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship. – 1 Chronicles 28:10-13 NLT

But Solomon had established other priorities. He chose to align himself with Egypt, making what he believed would be an essential treaty with this once-powerful nation. But in doing so, Solomon placed his hope and trust in something other than God Almighty. At this point in history, Solomon was reigning over one of the most powerful nations in the known world. His father, David, had built Israel into a formidable force in the region, having expanded its boundaries and secured its peace through his victories over the surrounding nations.

Solomon had inherited this kingdom and was privileged to rule during a time of relative peace and security. David had virtually eliminated any threat from the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, Arameans, Ammonites, and Amalekites.

King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated—from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. – 2 Samuel 8:11-12 NLT

Solomon did not need to make a treaty with Egypt. Their days as a world power were over, and they had nothing to offer Solomon. David had left his son with clear instructions as to the pressing priorities of his reign.

“Realize now that the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”

“Be strong and brave! Do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! For the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the LORD’s temple is finished.” – 1 Chronicles 28:10, 20 NLT

But rather than heeding his father’s counsel to construct a house for Yahweh, Solomon went about building his kingdom according to his own terms and agenda.

The prophet Isaiah would later warn the people of Israel about their propensity to seek alliances with and assistance from Egypt.

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,”
    says the LORD.
“You make plans that are contrary to mine.
    You make alliances not directed by my Spirit,
    thus piling up your sins.
For without consulting me,
    you have gone down to Egypt for help.
You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection.
    You have tried to hide in his shade.” – Isaiah 30:1-2 NLT

Without even realizing it, Solomon was stepping outside the protective boundaries of God and pursuing what he believed to be the best strategy for building his kingdom. But through it all, Solomon maintained a love and devotion for God, even offering thousands of sacrifices to Him on the high place in Gibeon. The book of 1 Chronicles provides us with the reason why Solomon chose Gibeon as the place to offer his sacrifices to God.

For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon. – 1 Chronicles 21:29 ESV

This location had been designated by God. Formerly the site of a threshing floor, David had purchased it and transformed it into the nation of Israel’s primary worship center. It would be at this critical location that Solomon would receive a gracious and undeserved gift from God. Despite his impulsiveness and blatant disobedience to God’s commands, he would be given the one thing that would set his reign apart from all those who would come after him. It would become the defining characteristic of his life. Solomon didn’t need more horses, wives, wealth, or treaties with his enemies. What he really needed was something only God could provide: Wisdom.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

To God Be the Glory

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1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. 17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid. – Nehemiah 6:1-19 ESV

After nearly two months of back-breaking, round-the-clock effort, the citizens of Jerusalem could see the fruits of all their hard work. The walls were nearing completion and the next step was to hang the gates on their hinges. Nehemiah must have experienced a deep sense of relief and satisfaction as he considered the magnitude of what they had accomplished. The last 52 days had been difficult and filled with setbacks, threats of violence, bitter infighting, and moments of doubt and despair. But despite the odds and with the help of God, the people remained focused, committed to their cause, and completed the project in record time.

This rag-tag group of returned exiles accomplished a project of herculean proportions, a job that should have taken years even under the best of circumstances. But their joy at having completed this massive defensive structure would be shortlived. Even when the gates were hung and everyone was snuggled safely inside the walls, their enemies would remain relentless in their attacks. No swords were drawn and no blood was spilled, but the animus of their enemies never dissipated. In fact, it only increased and took on a more clever and clandestine form.

As the last stones were placed on the wall, the enemies of Judah became more frightened and demoralized than ever, but why? Because they sensed that this project had been divinely ordained. Yahweh, the God of Judah was somehow involved; there was no other explanation. They had done everything in their power to stop the work, but it continued unabated. They had tried to discourage Nehemiah and the people from finishing their work but had failed. Their conclusion? The deity of Judah had somehow been involved. They could recognize that the completion of the wall in just 52 days was the result of divine intervention. This had been no ordinary construction project.

Desperate to forestall the hanging of the gates which would finalize the project, Sanballat and Geshem the Arab sent a message to Nehemiah requesting a meeting at an off-site location. These men were desperate to put an end to Nehemiah’s efforts and devised a plan to lure him out of Jerusalem under the guise of a peaceful parley. The invited him to join them at a small village in the plain of Ono located about 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, close to the border of Samaria.

Nehemiah saw through their ploy and turned down their invitation, stating, “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” (Nehemiah 6:3 NLT). He knew their intentions were evil so he refused their deceptive request for a “peaceful” conclave. But these men refused to take no for an answer and sent four additional requests that produced the same results. Finally, they sent a servant with a handwritten message intended to frighten Nehemiah.

“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’

“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.” – Nehemiah 6:6-7 NLT

Sanballat tried to portray himself as a concerned subject of the king and a well-meaning friend who was trying to inform Nehemiah of a potential problem. According to Sanballat, a vicious rumor was going around that accused Nehemiah of fostering insurrection and fomenting rebellion among the Jews. Sanballat suggests that he doubts the accusations but will have to share them with the king unless Nehemiah agrees to meet with him. This was a form of blackmail plain and simple. These trumped-up charges are completely fabricated but they are dangerous nonetheless.

But Nehemiah is unphased by Sanballat’s poorly veiled ploy. He matter-of-factly responded, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing” (Nehemiah 6:8 NLT). Although the rumors were lies, Nehemiah knew these men would not hesitate to follow through with their threat and present these slanderous accusations about him to the king. But he refused to be intimidated or deterred and continued to encourage the people to complete the project “with even greater determination” (Nehemiah 6:9 NLT).

But Sanballat and his co-conspirators would not give up. They enlisted the aid of a local citizen of Judah named Shemaiah. This man was confined to his home for some undisclosed reason. It could have been for the fulfillment of a vow or ceremonial uncleanness. Perhaps he had sustained injury while working on the wall. But whatever the case, he invited Nehemiah to come to his home where he shared a “prophecy” he had received. This man claims to have received a word from God that Nehemiah’s life is in danger and he must seek shelter in the Temple.

“Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.” – Nehemiah 6:10 NLT

Nehemiah knew Shemaiah well and had no reason to doubt his sincerity and concern. But Shemaiah’s “prophecy” made no sense. His recommendation for Nehemiah to seek shelter in the Temple directly violated the Mosaic Law. No one but the Levitical priests was allowed access to the inner recesses of the Temple, upon penalty of death (Numbers 1:51; 3:10; 18:7). Shemaiah’s solution to the supposed assassination attempt on Nehemiah’s life was non-sensical. To escape death, Nehemiah would come under a death sentence from God. This ploy was the handiwork of Sanballat and his friends. They were hoping to induce Nehemiah to seek shelter in the Temple and violate the laws of his God.

It seems that Sanballat was attempting to discredit Nehemiah among the Jews by getting him to violate the Mosaic Law. If Nehemiah had taken Shemaiah’s advice, he would have shown that his life was more important than God’s commands. This would have tarnished his reputation among the people and given credence to the rumor that he was a self-centered and self-promoting aspirant to the throne of Judah.

But Nehemiah recognized Shemaiah as a pawn in their thinly veiled plot to discredit him.

They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. – Nehemiah 6:13 NLT

Sanballat and his companions were pulling out all the stops. They were using their financial resources to buy informants and grease the palms of greedy prophets who were willing to use their positions for personal gain. But their efforts failed.

After 52 days, the walls were completed and the gates were hung. But this didn’t prevent the letters, accusations, payoffs, and personal attacks on Nehemiah from continuing unabated. God’s work will always face opposition. The enemy will always attack and do everything in his power to thwart the will of God.

But the efforts of God’s people brought God glory.

When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. – Nehemiah 6:14 NLT

On how many occasions does our work bring God glory? Do the projects we take on reflect the power of God or simply our own initiative and self-sufficiency? God wants to reveal His glory through His people. He wants to demonstrate His power despite our weakness. He wants to display His might through us as we accomplish His will.

God is not interested in seeing what we can do. He is not impressed with our strength and organizational abilities. That doesn’t mean we don’t have to do our part but we always have to remember, when all is said and done, God is the one who should receive the glory. The rebuilding of the wall was God’s idea. He had predicted it long in advance through the words of Daniel (Daniel 9:25). God had arranged for the people to return to the land of Judah. He had led Nehemiah to request permission from King Artaxerxes to lead back a group of exiles to rebuild the walls. God had protected and provided for them all along the way and now the work was done.

Yes, the people had worked hard. They had sore muscles, aching backs, and blistered hands to prove it. But all their efforts would have been nothing without the help of God, and even their enemies knew it. Nehemiah had led the people well, orchestrated their work flawlessly, and encouraged their efforts successfully, but without God, none of it would have mattered.

We do the work. God gets the glory. That’s the way it’s intended to be.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Distracted by Earthly Things

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. 2 And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

4 And after this there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued. 5 And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 6 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 7 And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, struck him down. 8 These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. – 1 Chronicles 20:1-8 ESV

First Chronicles 20 parallels 2 Samuel 11, where the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba is recorded in great detail. Interestingly, both chapters start out the same way, “The following spring, the time of year when kings go to war…,” but then they each take a slightly different path. The 2 Samuel passage goes on to say, “…David sent Joab and the Israelite army to destroy the Ammonites. In the process they laid siege to the city of Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1 ESV).

Chapter 20 of 1 Chronicles states that “…Joab led the Israelite army in successful attacks against the towns and villages of the Ammonites.” But in both cases, the authors clarify that David didn’t go into battle, but remained in Jerusalem. At a time of the year when kings would normally be waging war, David chose to send his troops into battle while he stayed safely ensconced in his capital city. He sent Joab to do his dirty business, while he stayed behind in Jerusalem. This decision led to his sin with Bathsheba and, ultimately, his murder of her husband Uriah.

But in 1 Chronicles, the author leaves out what happened while David was back in the capital and concentrates his attention on the victory over the Ammonites. If you just read this chapter alone, and not in association with chapter 11 of Second Samuel, you would be led to believe that this was just business as usual for David. He was sending out his troops and then going to meet them after the battle was over like all good kings do. But when you know what David was up to while Joab and his men were busy fighting for David and the kingdom, this story takes on a whole new light. And when you read that “David and his army returned to Jerusalem,” it should kind of turn your stomach a little bit. Here is David, who has just committed adultery with Bathsheba, attempted to cover it up, and in desperation, had her husband killed by abandoning him in battle, leading his troops triumphantly back into town to the cheers of the people, as if he had been there all along. He is enjoying the accolades and attention that come with victory when his life was actually marred by his moral lapse with Bathsheba. It is the height of hypocrisy.

What stands out in this passage if that there is no mention of David fighting the enemy. Joab, Sibbecai, Elhannon, and Jonathan are all listed as men who led, fought, and gained victory over the Ammonites. But David seems to take all the credit and more. “Then David went to Rabbah and removed the crown from the king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and he found that it weighed seventy-five pounds” (1 Chronicles, 20:2 NLT). When taken in conjunction with 2 Samuel 11, this paints an even grimmer picture of David. Not only has he committed adultery and murder, but he comes across as someone desperate for attention. He wants to stay at home in the safety and luxury of his palace in Jerusalem, but bask in the glory of the victory that others have brought about. He covets the benefits and blessings of victory without the risk.

In the second half of chapter 20, the chronicler goes on to describe the Israelite victory over the Philistines, but David is noticeably absent from the story until the closing verse.

…they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. – 1 Chronicles 20:8 ESV

David gets the glory without doing any of the work. But why does the Chronicler seem to stress David’s victories but leave out the entire story about David and his illicit affair with Bathsheba? It’s unlikely that the chronicler was attempting to cover up David’s infamous sin because it would have been well-known to all of his readers. More than likely, he omitted the details of this less-than-flattering event in David’s life because his purpose for the chapter was to highlight David’s victories over his enemies at the beginning of his reign. But that one phrase, “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle” stands out. It tells us that Joab, the commander of David’s army, led the troops into battle while “David remained at Jerusalem” (1 Chronicles 20:1 ESV). While David should have been busy defeating the enemies of God, he was falling victim to “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness” (Colossians 3:5 ESV). David had been God-ordained to be the king of Israel and lead the people of Israel.

“You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.” – 2 Samuel 5:2 ESV

But in the story of his affair with Bathsheba, we have a case of David losing sight of his real objective. He became distracted from God’s intended purpose for his life. While David would experience great victories in the years ahead, he would also suffer tremendous losses within his own household as a consequence of his sin.

The chronicler obviously knew well the sin of David with Bathsheba, but his real objective was to write of God’s activity among His people through the kingship of David. Despite David, God was still at work, providing the nation of Israel with victories over their enemies. He was still giving them His divine assistance in conquering the nations that occupied the land of Canaan. His efforts would be so effective that by the time David’s son Solomon took over the throne, his kingdom would experience a time of unparalleled peace and prosperity. But even with all his wisdom, riches, and obvious blessings from God, Solomon would prove to be unfaithful, allowing his love of women to lead to his worship of false gods. He would lose sight of the fact that God had given him wisdom so that he might lead the nation of Israel wisely. God blessed him with abundant resources that he might provide for the people of God.

Both of these men had been chosen by God to lead His people and they were not to be like all the other kings of the world. They were never to forget that they had the God of the universe on their side and that their actions and attitudes were to reflect their unique relationship with Him. God wanted to bless their reigns and provide them with victories over their enemies and peace and prosperity for their people. God would provide both men with the assurance of His abiding presence and power.

David and Solomon both illustrate man’s unique capacity to focus on that which is earthly and temporal. In Colossians 3, Paul provides a short, but relatively comprehensive list of what constitutes an earthly, rather than a heavenly mindset: “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness” (Colossians 3:5 ESV).

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul provided an even longer list of what he calls the “works of the flesh”: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, division, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV).

Together, these two lists serve as a compendium of a life lived with an earthly, rather than a heavenly focus. Paul goes on to tell his readers to put to death what is earthly in them. These are internal issues that emanate from within. Jesus Himself said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15:19 ESV).

David’s sin with Bathsheba was an outflow of an internal problem in David’s heart. Solomon’s idolatry and unfaithfulness were the direct result of his own heart condition. James points out the danger of this internal source of temptation and distraction.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. – James 1:14 ESV

But Paul gives the antidote to the problem. 

…set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. – Colossians 3:1 NLT

Our focus, interest, and primary concern is to be on eternal, rather than temporal things. We are to desire the things of God instead of the things of this world. Paul reminds us that, because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we are equipped to live differently and distinctively.

…you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. – Colossians 3:9 NLT

The tense he uses in this sentence suggests that this is a past event; it has already taken place. We have been given a new life in Christ. We are new creations.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Paul’s emphasis seems to be that we are to recognize our new identity as redeemed, renewed creations and live accordingly. In other words, our conduct should begin to reflect our new status as children of God. We are “being renewed” daily – an ongoing process by which we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. Paul would have us remember that our job is to live in keeping with who we are in Christ.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. – Colossians 3:12-13 ESV

My relationship with Christ should transform every area of my life.

In whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. – Colossians 3:17 ESV

I am to live with a heavenly mindset, not an earthly one. I am to live a life that reflects my new identity in Christ and my new Spirit-empowered capacity to reflect His holiness and righteousness. I don’t have to live according to my old sinful nature. Yes, it is still there and is alive and well but God has given me a new nature that can effectively counteract my old nature. Paul puts it this way:

…walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16 ESV

I can live by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit. I can bear the fruit of the Spirit. But I must set my mind on the things above. I must seek God’s will and saturate my mind with His Word. I cannot live like Christ if I attempt to exist on a steady diet of earthly things. If I fill my mind with the things of this world, I will bear the fruit of this world. So Paul encourages us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16 ESV).

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.