The High Cost of Living in the Moment(s)

1 Kings 11:1–3 (ESV) Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.

There are fateful moments in the Bible where history turns on a few verses. This is one of them. Solomon was the richest, most famous and beloved human on the planet, but here, his legacy took a nose-dive. Think of 700 wives. Each one was a conscious decision to concede moral ground to bad influences. Each one, I'm sure, seemed like a good or pleasurable decision for Solomon.

Remember the details of this chapter come on the heels of the previous chapter. Last chapter he was busy accruing a military arsenal from Egypt which the Lord strictly forbade Israel's kings to do. Now Solomon is chasing pleasure and sex, which was also forbidden in Israel's kings. Solomon is chasing the familiar temptations of most leaders - power that cannot be toppled and pleasure that cannot run out. 

The saddest part of this moment is that Solomon got all these things he thought would bring him happiness, peace and fulfillment and they did not do any such thing. I the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes he describes this reality and comes to a startling conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 2:17 (ESV) So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Here's the deal, friend, your life is not meant to be lived chasing the passions and desires of your heart. The worst thing that could happen to you is to get everything you ever wanted because you don't know the future and what you want now may wreck you later. Truthfully, we are not made to consume and accrue. We are made to live for the benefits of others and the purposes of God. 

The text gives us more clues as to how Solomon so tragically fell away from the Lord:

1 Kings 11:4 (ESV) For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

This is an incredibly important text - especially for young people. Dear Christian, if you are not yet married, expect the devil to tempt you with dating unbelievers and potentially moving in with them or even marrying them. The thing is, you'll consider breaking faith with God over that potential relationship because you're entirely short-sighted. You're only thinking in the present. One day, you will get old, and you need to think about the kind of life will you have built around you when you no longer have the strength to stand strong in Christ. 

We all get old and weak. What are we building around us to strengthen us in God now so we are well-equipped in God later? You see, a godless union seems harmless when you are full of strength and there are no kids involved, but God sees your life beginning to end. This story is here to show you that Solomon's sin of marrying these wives became the impossible situation for his soul later in life. 

This lesson applies to all Christians: your future is far too valuable to sacrifice it on the altar of what seems better than nothing right now! Wait for the Lord. The scripture says those who do will "soar on wings as eagles, ...run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31). 

In the end, small moments today could produce circumstances later that could set us up in strength or lead us away in sin. Choose the Lord today. Follow Him today. The scripture says, "Today is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).