His Purpose And Our Potential

1 Kings 11 contains one of the saddest stories in all of scripture.
The fall of King Solomon.
The second son of David, the one who worshipped the Lord, consulted of the Lord, and wrote most of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.

When Solomon was asked what he wanted from the Lord, He asked for wisdom.  He didn’t ask for a long life, wealth, or fame, but for wisdom, and when he did, God granted him all of it.  The request of wisdom and the unspoken advantages too.
But we read it that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.  And in an effort to please his wives, he allowed their negative influence to impact his life’s choices, surrendering to the worship of false gods… a sin detestable to the Lord.

We read about the devastation in verse 3 - “they turned his heart away from the Lord.”  In verse 6 - “Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.”

And we read it again in verse 9, likely the harshest read of them all - “The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.”

Because of his disobedience, and his turning from the Lord and His ways, God raised up 3 adversaries to Solomon.

One was a man named Jeroboam.

And the bible tells us that a prophet appeared to Jeroboam and told him of the Lord’s plan.
He would inherit 10 of the tribes for himself, while removing all but one from Solomon as a form of punishment for disobedience.
Upon Solomon’ death Jeroboam would gain power and control, ultimately ruling over, “all that {his} heart desired.”  (vs 37)

And these were the conditions of God’s blessing:

• If you listen to Me.
• If you follow My ways.
• If you do what I consider right.
• If you obey My commands.

The promise then was:

• God would be with him.
• God would establish to him an enduring dynasty.
• He would gain all of Israel.

It is important to note that there was no “goodness” we can find in the life of Jeroboam.
God made a great promise to this sin-filled man, regardless of his worth.

God, in His lovingkindness, gave Jeroboam a wonderful opportunity by means of grace and unconditional love, to make himself great like David.
Remember David was God’s chosen vessel… the one he called, “a man after My own heart.”  And the promises He had made to David were to stand forever. 

Psalm 132:17 tells us that, “Here I will increase the power of David My anointed one will be a light for My people.”
David was to have a light in Jerusalem always.
And if not through his son, now turned evil, it would be tried through an unlikely man - Jeroboam.

But we know the rest of the story.
Jeroboam dishonored God, and lost the offer to inherit the 10 tribes.

But take note - knowing what kind of man he would later become by way of sin didn’t lesson or discount the extended offer to become the kind of man he COULD BE.

He had all that was necessary by way of provision from God to be the next, “man after God’s own heart.”  He had within Him a call that qualified him, but no integrity to step into God’s glorious plan.

Ahh - but looking at this story gives me great hope.
And it should you too!

Because God doesn’t call us based on merit or worth.
He calls us based on value and potential.
He sees what’s possible.
He sees our potential.
And He says - if you do what I ask, I will make you great!

The question we must continue to wrestle with is this: What kinds of opportunities is God extending to you, and in what ways can you truly honor and glorify Him by becoming the person He believes you to be and designed you to be?

I believe we honor Him the best when we become all He has purposed us to be.
By saying yes.
By obeying His Word.
By doing what He says.

He’s promised the same to you and me.  “I will be with you.”
And there’s simply nothing this side of eternity better than that!

God extends opportunities to us based on His purpose and our potential.