DEVOTION – DAY 380

Devotion, 18 Sept 2023

1 Kings 11:1-3 “King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter – Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fats to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.”

Many of Solomon’s marriages were marriages of convenience for the purpose of strengthening international relationships with neighboring kingdoms, large and small. It was a common practice in the Middle East in ancient times. But intermarriage went against God’s commands whereby God prohibited intermarriage with pagan women in Exodus 34:16 and Deuteronomy 7:1-3. God also forbade multiple wives in Deuteronomy 17:17. God knew that pagan wives would turn the people’s hearts away into idolatry. And in 1 Kings 11:4, we learnt that as King Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not fully devoted God. There was an atmosphere of paganism and idolatry in his court as his foreign wives led Solomon into many pagan religious practices even as he worshipped God.

Today, Christians may not have as many wives as King Solomon. But they sometimes enter into relationships with unbelievers that could lead them astray. For example, a Christian may enter into a business partnership with a non-Christian. The non-Christian may want to install an altar to idols so that the business may prosper. The non-Christian may want to resort to bribes to secure business contracts. Slowly, the Christian finds that he is drawn into such practices that do not honor God.

A young man went to Sunday school at a young age and he was taught the Bible. When it was time for him to go to University, he chose to study abroad. It was the first time he was away from home and he loved the freedom. He wanted to enjoy his student life abroad and looked forward to making new friends. Unfortunately, he mixed with the wrong crowd of friends. Many were non-Christians who invited him to pubs and dancing clubs. They introduced him to recreational drugs and casual sex. He knew instinctively that it was wrong but he was curious and he wanted to try new experiences. He did not want to say “no” to his new-found friends. In the end, his studies suffered and his grades were so bad that his parents had him withdrawn from the course. This happened because this young man was led astray from God by the wrong choice of friends.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, your ways are always the best for us. Please help us to always remain in you and to keep your commands willingly. Help us never to disobey you or wander away. We pray this in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

1. What are some situations and relationships that Christians become involved in with non-Christians that can lead them astray? Discuss.
2. What are the dangers of such situations and relationships for Christians? Discuss.
3. What must they do when they find themselves in such situations and relationships with non-Christians? Discuss.