June 5

1 Kings 11:1-43; 2 Chronicles 9:29-31; Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Hypocrite! This is a common critique of Christians─sometimes potentially true, sometimes overblown─but one of the tragic hypocrites in the Bible is Solomon. Yesterday, we read his beautiful poem about romantic love and the exclusivity of marriage; and then today we read he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. What!?!?!? How could someone who understood God's value for romance and marriage miss the mark so far? His hypocrisy had severe consequences for him and the nation. The love of his wives led to the love of idols, which led to the dissolution of Israel. Solomon's sin revealed that he loved things more than God. He loved his wives and their gods more than he loved God and obeying him.

This same attitude can creep into our hearts. We can find ourselves valuing things more than God, and this will always lead to a failure to experience the abundant life Christ died to give us. We need to constantly do a heart check to determine whether we are truly loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; to ensure hypocrisy is not running rampant in our lives.

Father God, help me to love you above everything. You are greater, more beautiful, and more satisfying than anything else. May you be the greatest love of my life. Amen. 

What other loves are competing with your love of God for first place in your life?

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