“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”
We don’t have the power and authority to design and create a world to live in. Rather, we live in the world that has been designed and created for us long before we ever came on the scene. It is the world that has been designed and created by the Lord God of heaven and earth. We live in His world and must live according to His will in order to find success.
King David was wise. He knew it was not the world of his own design and making, and so he gives this advice to his son who would be king after him.
Modern Christians also do well to ponder this bit of wisdom as David spells out four things. First, you must “serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind.” Since it is the Lord’s world, He is the Sovereign King and Ruler over it. You can’t do whatever you want, as the foolish people do. The wise recognize that success happens in submission to God’s will.
Second, you must realize that the Lord “searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.” You can’t fool the Lord. You can’t pretend to be a faithful servant and still harbor rebellious thoughts and intentions. The Lord finds out everything.
Third, you must seek Him, so He will find you. You must not go your own way in life. You must seek His will and purpose and follow Him. If you seek Him, you will find Him and He will bless your efforts (Hebrews 11:6).
Finally, you must not forsake Him. If you do, then you will be cast off forever. It is His world. It is a privilege to live in it, not a right. If you fail to respect its terms, then you forfeit your privilege. God is faithful to His covenant with His people, but it has two sides. David reminded Solomon of this, and he bids us to be wise also.
By John Huisman, friend of Bible League International
