[The Mayor]

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Six Words From Solomon
January 29, 2011

SMITH magazine, an online community that “celebrates the joy of storytelling,” invited readers to submit six-word memoirs that describe their lives. Thousands responded with brief biographies ranging from the light-hearted “Sweet wife, good sons—I’m rich” to the painful “Sixty. Still haven’t forgiven my parents.”

Based on Scripture, I tried to imagine how King Solomon might have summed up his life in six words. As a young man, he could have written: God has given me great wisdom. But in his later years, he might have said: Should have practiced what I preached.

During a reign distinguished by peace and prosperity, Solomon developed spiritual heart problems. When he was old, “his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David” (1 Kings 11:4). The result was God’s displeasure and a sad end to a previously exemplary life (v.9).

The multiple times Solomon used the word vanity (or meaningless) in Ecclesiastes may indicate his disillusionment about life. This once-wise king who had it all, lost it all, and pondered it all, ended the book with this final conclusion: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13).

Those are six words worth heeding.

The pleasures of this sinful world
Are meaningless and vain;
But if we love and follow God
True purpose we will gain. —Sper

Obedience to God is the key to a life of blessing.

Read: 1 Kings 10:23; 11:1-10

Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. —Ecclesiastes 12:13

Bible in a year:
Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Mayor.

Thank you for sharing ODB again this morning. We appreciate you and your morning Scripture lessons.

[geologist]

Quite a feat to sum up our self in six words. Perhaps we should do it and see what we learn.

Indeed Solomon strayed from the steadfastness he started with when he became King of Israel. The bible has many such stories of godly believing men straying or wandering away from their foundations. IE. David, Hezekiah, etc., the children of Israel when they had no faith to cross into the promised land. After witnessing God's continuous company in leaving Egypt. O ye of little faith moments.

A few had nothing against them MOSES, Daniel, Joseph, Esther, and a few others, perhaps Joshua, Caleb, Nehemiah, Ezra, Ruth ... Interesting study to make.

Me = Repentant sinner seeking to please God.