Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. (1 Kings 11:6)
the air conditioning at Janice’s church needed to be serviced—desperately. The summer was just beginning, but temperatures were threatening to set record highs. Janice’s Sunday school class of second and third graders followed her willingly to the church kitchen and watched her mix ice, water, sugar, and lemon juice into a large pitcher. Before she filled their glasses, she dipped the mixing spoon into the soil of a nearby potted plant and brought the spoon back in a gentle arc toward the lemonade. Eight-year-old Travis, always outspoken, protested: “What are you doing? That’s gross!”
Janice smiled and responded, “But it’s just a little bit. It’ll add flavor.”
Travis responded immediately, “Even a little bit is too much.”
Janice smiled and put down the spoon. “Remember when we learned how dangerous sin is to us? Even a little ruins the flavor of our lives. We need to serve the Lord completely.” The teacher had made her point and quenched their thirst as well.
Solomon went off track because he did not follow the Lord with wholehearted devotion like his father David. He introduced sin, in the form of idolatry, into his spiritual life. Sin, in any form and any amount, ruins our ability to walk with God. Make certain to keep sin from becoming part of the “mix” of your life.
Eliminate sin when it first appears in your life.
Paul Zinter serves as a substitute teacher. He enjoys writing, bread making, and teaching at his local church.
