Day 91, or April 1. Please don't add anything. Our thoughts today are from 1 Kings chapter
3 verse 3. Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions
given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on
the high places.
Now the big picture of this verse. The first book of Kings is dominated by King Solomon,
but only until halfway through. After that the kingdom splits and there are lots of kings
with lots of names. Solomon had a significant rival for the throne in the person of one
of his older brothers born to David when he ruled in Hebron. With the help of his mother
Bathsheba and the fact that he was the favorite son from the favorite wife, Solomon finally
acceded to the throne on the death of David. Solomon's rule was quickly established, but
then he went off the rails by assembling a vast army of horses and chariots, the very
thing he was warned not to do in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17 verse 16.
Now today's action step. One of the reasons I wouldn't make a good sculptor or painter
in oils is that I always want just one more touch before it's finished. The skill is
knowing when you have the perfect result and leaving it alone, not adding anything else.
Solomon had the same problem, only he had the power and authority to add so much more.
He asked God for wisdom and got it. He also received untold riches as a bonus. Then he
started adding things. We read that very early in his reign he walked according to the teachings
of his father David. But that wasn't enough for Solomon. He also followed the pagan practices
of the day by offering sacrifices on the high places. He didn't stop there. He became
increasingly independent of God. As believers we need to remind ourselves that our salvation
requires no additions. If you are trusting in God plus whatever, we need to delete the
whatever and then we are totally secure whatever life throws at us.