What impresses God is not our achievements but our integrity. Solomon was an impressive man by the time we reach 1 Kings 9. Israel has become wealthy, Solomon has overseen the building of the temple and his own impressive palace. He has dedicated the temple and prayed that it would be a place of blessing to the nations (1 Kings 8:41). It all looks so good, now in today’s reading we hear a promise from God. It’s a promise that contains a warning:
“If you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing all that I have commanded you…” (1 Kings 9:4)
Here we see what is important to God, it’s not our achievements but our walk with Him. Tragically there have been some very successful Christian leaders who have perhaps convinced themselves that their achievements have allowed them a few privileges. For Solomon, it was many wives, and tragically he turned from following the Lord wholeheartedly.
Our Bible reading plan has us reading 1 Timothy alongside 1 Kings, and it’s striking to read God’s commands for Christian leaders. Again, God is not concerned about success, but faithfulness. In 1 Timothy 3 we are told that Christian pastors should be “above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled…” God is more concerned that you are led by a godly pastor than by a successful one. Here is a reminder to be praying for our pastors and elders, that they may be faithful men with a close walk with the Lord. Pray that they would be kept from the idol of popularity and that the Lord will give them courage to do the right thing in obedience to Him rather than fearing man.
And yet, whilst there is a parallel to be drawn from Solomon as a leader to Christian leaders today, Solomon was unique in that he was the king. His obedience or disobedience affected the whole nation. If he follows the Lord, the nation is blessed, but if he disobeys, then the nation will lose the land. Sadly even in chapter 9 we see the seed of Solomon’s downfall. Yes, he might have been performing all the right sacrifices, but he allows the heart of Egypt in right next to the temple (9:24). He has married Pharaoh’s daughter, and at the end of the chapter he is looking to Egypt for more wealth. The heart of the world has entered the heart of the king. We are left longing for a better king, a selfless king who walks with integrity. Only in Jesus do we find such a king, and praise God that through His death for us, he shares his blessing with all who trust Him.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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