Devotion: Fully Devoted To God

As Solomon grew old…his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God.

1 Kings 11:4

Is your heart “fully” devoted to the Lord? The Lord loved Solomon deeply. Solomon’s ways pleased the Lord; so much so that the Lord offered, “‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you’” (1 Kings 3:5).

At Solomon’s request, the Lord gave him wisdom and knowledge, but added to it wealth, riches, and honor “such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have” (2 Chronicles 1:12).

And what was the condition placed upon Solomon to enjoy this undeserved blessing? “‘And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life’” (1 Kings 3:14).

The way of Solomon prospered. He finished building the temple of the Lord. “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore… He was wiser than any other man.” (1 Kings 4:29, 31).

Of his stature the Queen of Sheba said, “‘The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard’” (1 Kings 10:6-7). “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23).

God loved Solomon; however… The word “however” ranks among the most pregnant of words. It qualifies whatever has gone before it. It is a modifier. It changes the good report to a conditional report or softens the blow of a bad report.

“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women.” (1 Kings 11:1, emphasis added). In this instance, the word however recasts the greatest report ever given into a sad light. About other nations the Lord instructed, “‘You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.’ Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love” (1 Kings 11:2).

Solomon remained true to only God for many years, but because he intermarried with the culture of the world, he later turned to other gods and “his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God…” (1 Kings 11:4, emphasis added).

“Fully” is another one of those pregnant words inflated with implications. Yes, he still served God, but he merged other beliefs into his way. How was he not “fully” devoted? He also followed Ashtoreth and Molech.

Ashtoreth was the goddess of sensual living, sexual license, and free love. Molech was the detestable god to whom child sacrifices were made. Sound familiar? Our land, ripped and torn by less-than-full devotion to God, has turned its heart after these very same gods.

Sensual living. Abortion. If it feels good, do it. Is it any wonder that “the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away” (1 Kings 11:9)? Is it any wonder that the Lord is angry with America, whose heart is not fully devoted to Him?

Solomon’s life was fine until he came to his “however.” To walk in God’s ways and obey God’s statutes was his delight, until he came to his "however.” Solomon’s “however” was his love of foreign women. He yielded and intermarried with them, the very thing God asked him not to do. God warns against giving in to our “howevers.” “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” It is a cause-and-effect relationship. Have you intermarried with the culture? Have you given in to the “however” of your life?

Solomon died a broken man, disillusioned and spiritually insensible. He thought he could have it both ways. He merged the way of God with the way of the world, and the world swallowed him up.

Is your heart fully devoted to the Lord your God? Or have you intermarried? Flee from the gods of this broken world. Flee, before they swallow you up. Are you wiser than Solomon? He could not serve both Ashtoreth and God, both Molech and the Lord. Plead with the one true God for grace to free you from the snare. Dare you risk it? Are you thinking to yourself, I can get away with this because it’s not hurting me right now?

It is easier to continue with the Lord than it is to make a comeback. Be on guard. Do you want to grow old with dignity? Re-learn His ways; make sure you have them right. “‘And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands…I will give you a long life’” (1 Kings 3:14).

In our day millions of Christians have been swallowed up by the world. They have intermarried with the culture. They worship God but are not fully devoted to Him—they wink at the false gods of Solomon’s day: the goddess of sensual living and the god of child sacrifices (abortion).

Sensual living, materialism, legalism, pop religion, abortion, drugs, liberalism, emotionalism, relative values: These are the “howevers"—the other gods—of this age. The result? Millions of us are disillusioned and spiritually insensible—divorced, chemically dependent, bitter, and apostate.

The only solution is to surrender to the God who is. The turning point of our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is. A total resurrender is the antidote for the heart not fully devoted to God.

I SURRENDER

Dear Father, the one true God. My life is filled with “howevers.” My heart has not been fully devoted to You. I confess that I have intermarried with the culture, and I am headed toward disillusionment and spiritual insensibility. Revive my spirit, O God. Forgive my stubborn way. Do not let me be swallowed up by the world. Forgive me and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Empower me to walk in Your ways and to obey Your statutes. Amen.