Exceptions

TO READ: 1 Kings 3:1-15

Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship.

1 Kings 3:3

How do we show our love for the Lord? Will it be written of us that we loved the Lord and followed him “except . . .”? Nobody’s perfect, that is true, yet some exceptions should be excepted! Sometimes we pamper ourselves, allowing too much spiritual leeway. We could and should show our love to the Lord more by dealing with our “Solomon tendencies.”

Solomon excelled as no other king before or since —but there were some “exceptions” in his life. “Solomon loved many foreign women. . . . They turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the LORD his God, as his father, David, had been” (1 Kings 11:1, 4). Little by little throughout his long life, Solomon allowed himself the indulgence of exceptions.

Whether it be the opposite sex, material possessions, wealth, fame, success, or anything else, each of us has to deal with our own “Solomon self.” It’s easy to let things slip little by little. A little flirting here, a little self-indulgence there, and the evil one establishes a beachhead in our thinking and in our disciplines. It’s when we let go of godliness and hold fast to ungodliness that we lose direction and let others take control of our lives. Erosion in dearly held values often begins almost imperceptibly with a seemingly small decision. God will help us keep alert to the dangers and notice each evil incursion. If we persist in listening to and obeying his Word, we will hear his still, small voice reminding us, “No exceptions.”