Scripture: 1 Kings 8:54-66, 2 Chronicles 7:1-10, 1 Kings 9:1-9, 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, 1 Kings 9:10-14
"Solomon turned his attention to rebuilding the towns King Hiram had given him ...” 2 Chronicles 8:2 (NLT)
- He settled the Israelites there
- He fought against and conquered the town of Hamath-zobah
- He fortified the towns of Beth-horon
- He rebuilt Baalath and other supply centers
- He rebuilt everything he desired in Jerusalem and Lebanon
The word "he" jumps out at me. Solomon certainly accomplished much, didn't he? I am amazed at what he did and all that he gained in terms of fame, wealth, and material goods. The blessings and accomplishments astound me until I remember his dream and the million dollar question. Solomon’s blessings were owed to God's promise to him of a wise and understanding heart, riches, fame and a long life.
We can have a blessed life like Solomon too. To be clear, there isn’t a Bible verse that promises material blessings, riches, and fame—at least not in the way our world would define them. But God does promise a full and abundant life. John 10:10 tells us, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (NLT)
Life in verse 10 does not refer to our physical life. It is the Greek word zoe and means: life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ. This is the truth we can count on.
I want a life that is genuine, blessed, and vigorously devoted to Christ. How about you? According to John 10, it is ours when we accept Jesus. This is the life He came to give you and me. To receive it, we simply need to accept, believe, obey, and live like it is the truth.
