His heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God. (1 Kings 11:4)
Expanded Passage: 1 Kings 11:4–6
My husband is blessed with a great metabolism. He is mindful about what he eats and devotes time to exercise, but in general, he can do just about anything with no apparent physical ramifications. His dad warned him that one day that easy metabolism will disappear and not return—and that will bring more work!
Aging presents some things outside our control—like a changing metabolism—but other things are very much in our grip. The trajectory of our heart is something we can control, and it is something we must master before it masters us.
Solomon filled his life and days with women who did not encourage him to control the trajectory of his heart. In fact, they controlled the trajectory of his heart and caused him to crawl toward spiritual calamity. Scripture tells us that “his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God” (11:4) and goes on to say more strongly that he “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (11:6).
God is not looking for halfhearted followers. He is looking for people willing to devote their entire hearts to pursuing him and his holy lifestyle. When we fill our days with people and activities that don’t draw us toward the Lord, we find ourselves crawling toward calamity. Let’s choose today to protect our hearts and pursue what is sacred and holy!
God calls us to follow fully and worship wholly.
Bekah Shaffer lives in Bluffton, Indiana, and enjoys studying and teaching the Word, drinking coffee, and adventuring with her husband, Ryan, and puppy, Lexi Grae.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
