The Carpenter's Chapel (7)

Monday, 6th February, 2006

Asa’s heart was loyal to the Lord all his days

“But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.” - 1 Kings 15v14

Asa was the son of Abijah and grandson of Jeroboam. His great-grandfather was Solomon. Three generations of kings before him had turned for worshipping the true God to their false idols. He grandmother had set up an obscene image of the god Ahserah. He certainly did not have a godly heritage.

In spite of this, Asa returned to the ways of his great-great-grandfather David. He had a heart that was loyal to the Lord all his days. He tore down the idols and returned to the nation to the worship of Jehovah. However, he did not tear down the high places where false worship took place. He did not do the job completely.

David and Asa both had hearts for the Lord, but they both failed to serve God with absolute perfection. David had his sin with Bathsheba and Asa did not get rid of the worship places. Even a heart for God is not going to bring about absolute perfection. That kind of perfection only comes through the indwelling Christ.

A good and loyal heart is not enough. Only Christ can make us perfect and only in Him.

 

Tuesday February 7, 2006

"And He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27).
A good definition of a miracle is "an event which is impossible scientifically, but which happens anyway." Modern scientism often rejects the concept of special creation, because it requires the supernatural work of Creator. But that is the very point! This world and its complex systems could never have arisen by "natural" processes.
The specific context of this verse, however, is the great work of salvation. The Lord Jesus had just shocked a rich and morally upright young ruler that, to inherit eternal life, he needed to give all his possessions to the poor, thus laying up treasure in heaven. This would not do, and so Jesus said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Luke 18:24-25). The astonished disciples, who had always thought that wealth was a mark of God's favor, exclaimed, "Who then can be saved?" (v.26).
Jesus then answered in the thrilling words of our text.
Salvation requires a miracle-a miracle of special creation (IICorinthians 5:17). The rich man must become a different man altogether-a poor man in fact, no longer trusting in riches" (Mark 10:24), but only in Him. "Come, take up the cross, and follow me," He told the rich young ruler (Mark 10:21). This does not necessarily mean that a rich man must actually give all his possessions away, but it does mean he can no longer trust in riches (or any attribute, skill, etc.), or use them merely for his own selfish pleasure.
When a person really yields his life to Christ for salvation, therefore, the God of the impossible supernaturally makes him into a new creation, and his wealth, and strength, and talents, as well as his very life, all belong to his new Lord.

 

There was nothing

“And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.” - 1 Kings 18v43

After the defeat of Baal’s prophets on Mt Carmel Elijah knew that the drought was just about over. He told everyone to prepare because there was “a sound of abundance of rain” even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

He sent his servant to the coast to see is there was any indication. When he got there, “There was nothing.” He went back five more times – still nothing. On the seventh look there was a small cloud on the horizon, just the sign of a man’s fist. When he told Elijah he told Ahab to get his chariot ready before the rains came. Elijah knew that God was about to work.

How do we respond when we don’t see God doing anything? How many of us would give up the first time we saw nothing. Or the second, or third, or fourth time? How many would have just said on the seventh time, “O, its just a little cloud – nothing to get excited about.”

Elijah had enough faith to know that God was going to work. He acted my faith, not by what he could see. His faith should encourage us to trust God even when we look and “there is nothing.”

 

Thursday February 9, 2006

"Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all
the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem" (Zephaniah 3:14)
The last seven verses in the prophecy of Zephaniah contain a message of
future hope and restoration far beyond the nation of Israel's
present-day experience.
Since 1948, the nation has experienced constant threats of war and
destruction. There are bombings and assassinations, sorrow and death.
Peace is proclaimed, but there is no lasting peace.
Yet, Zephaniah predicted that there is coming a day when singing.
shouting, and rejoicing will characterize the daily life in all of
Israel.
This dramatic turn-around will occur because the King of Israel
(Messiah, Lord) will be in their midst (v.15). This King is none other
than the King of kings and Lord of lords: Christ Himself. This is the
millennium: the 1000-year reign of Christ from Jerusalem.
The King is called "The Lord thy God" (v.17). Jesus is God manifest in
the flesh. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) among
us" (John 1:14). He will come again to the earth to set up His kingdom.
At which time the nation of Israel will receive Him as Messiah and Lord.
"And so all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26).
Zephaniah lists the following blessings that will come on Israel: God's
judgement on unbelieving Israel will cease; all enemies will be cast out
and the unspeakable evils that have come upon them in the past will come
to an end (v.15). They will no longer live in fear (v.16) of all who
have tried to undo them, because Israel's oppressors will instead give
them praise (v.19). Their name will be spread abroad; praise will be
given them from the ends of the earth (v.20). It will come to pass.
Israel will see it happen before their eyes.

 

A still small voice

“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” - 1 Kings 19v12

Elijah still was not convinced. Even when God asked him what he was doing in the wilderness all he could do was complain. In the mouth of a cave God showed His mighty power in a fierce windstorm, in an earthquake, and is a fire. Yet, God did not appear in any of these. Each of them was only an announcement of God’s coming.

When God did appear it was in a still small voice. God did not speak with fireworks or noise. He spoke in a way that required Elijah to listen.

We often allow the noise of the world to drown out God’s still small voice. God does not often scream out for our attention, He waits on us to wait on Him.

Are we listening for God’s still small voice? If He speaks today are we going to be able to hear Him amongst the noise and clamour of this world? Are we really ready to hear His still small voice?

 

Monday February 13, 2006

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7)
This, of course, is one of the Ten Commandments, and is surely going to cause great consternation one day when men and women finally appear before God. Even Christians, too sensitive to use "God" or "Jesus" in careless or profane speech, often use such euphemisms as "gosh," or "gee," or similar expressions. Almost inadvertently, even conscientious Christians, when angered or pressed emotionally, feel constrained somehow to bring spiritual concepts into their exclamations-"for heaven's sake!" "son of a gun!" etc., as well as other such euphemisms such as "darn," "heck," and the like.
All of this, while deplorable, is nevertheless a sort of backhanded acknowledgement that God is real and Biblical revelation is true. It is significant that adherents of other religions never take the names of their gods in vain! Who ever heard of a Buddhist, or a Muslim, or a Hindu do such thing? If they want to swear, they also will often inadvertently use the name of the true God, or His Christ, in vain. Even atheists frequently sprinkle their conversations with blasphemous Christian epithets, calling on God (who doesn't exist). "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision" (Psalm 2:4).
In this day of loose and vulgar speech, Christians need especially to control their own tongues. Jesus said, "But let your communication be, Yea, yea: Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (or, perhaps better, 'the evil one'). Jesus has warned that "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement" (Matthew 12:36).

 

Tuesday, 14th February, 2006

I hate him…

“And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.” - 1 Kings 22v8

Ahab was quite a character. When Naboth would not sell him his land, Ahab went to his bed, turned his face to the wall, and pouted until Jezebel sorted things out for him.

When Ahab was talking to Jehoshaphat about their alliance he mentioned a prophet named Micaiah. Ahab, however, hated Micaiah because, “he does not prophecy good concerning me, but evil.”

When we truly handle and proclaim the word of God, we cannot expect everyone to like us. We are going to make enemies when we do so. People are going to hate us when we are called upon to be a modern day Micaiah and will take God’s words as a personal insult. We should not be surprised.

 

Wednesday February 15, 2005

"And they glorified God in me" (Galatians 1:24).
It is amazing to read in the Scriptures that the God of glory can actually receive yet more glory through His people. But that is what happened in Paul. When he became a Christian, his life changed completely, and those who saw the change glorified God in Paul.
Jesus prayed that this would be so, not only in Paul, but in all His followers. In the upper room before His crucifixion, He prayed: "I pray for them...which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them" (John 17:9-10).
He is glorified when we, like Paul, become His. But then He is further glorified as we grow in Him. Paul himself prayed for those whom he had seen come to Christ: "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him..." (II Thessalonians 1:11-12).
Finally, He shall be glorified when He comes again. "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven...He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe..." (II Thessalonians 1:7,10).
As we give glory to Christ in word and deed, He truly was, and is, and will be, glorified in His saints. This is a privilege greater than can be measured, which more than compensates for any opposition this generates from the world. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified" (I Peter 4:14). Therefore, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may...glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

 

Thursday, 16th February, 2006

The God of little things

“But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.” - 2 Kings 6v5-7

Losing a tool is certainly no big deal. It happens to us all the time. Here the Bible tells us about a time the prophet’s school needed a new building so they set about chopping down trees to build one. These were no men of means, typical Bible school students J.

Suddenly one of the axe heads flew off and sank to the bottom of the Jordan River. The man who was using it was distraught. He had borrowed the axe and had no way to repay the owner. He went to Elisha who calmly picked up a stick and threw it into the river where the axe head had gone in and the axe head floated back to the top.

Our God cares about the “little things” in our lives. What “axe heads” have you weighed down today?

 

Friday February 17, 2006

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest
the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them" (II Corinthians 4:3-4).
The "God of this world" is none other than Satan, who is also called
"the prince of this world" (John 12:31) and the one "which deceiveth
the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). It is sobering to realize that he and
his demonic cohorts have the power to blind the minds of unbelievers,
preventing them from comprehending even the simplest elements of the
saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, Christ can make the blind to see! In answer to prayer and
through the faithful presentation of the word of truth, "the Father of
glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that
ye may know..." (Ephesians 1:17-18).
The Lord desires that people come to Christ; therefore, He gives his
witnesses weapons that can even vanquish Satan and open the eyes of the
spiritually blind. These are the spiritual weapons of truth and
righteousness, peace and faith, the word and prayer (Ephesians 6:11,
13-18). "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds Casting down
imaginations (literally 'reasonings'), and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought (same word as 'mind') to the obedience of
Christ" (II Corinthians 10:4-5).
Even though Satan is far more intelligent and powerful than we, or those
we seek to reach, God still enables us to recapture their minds and
bring them to Christ, as we proclaim the truth, in His name, by His
grace!

 

Monday, 20th February, 2006

The did not require an accounting…for they dealt faithfully

“Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.” - 2 Kings 12v15

When Joash became king the first thing he set about doing was to repair the temple that had fallen into terrible disrepair. There was some delay until Joash devised a new method of collecting offerings for the work.

Workman had to be hired. Carpenters, metalworkers, workers with fabric, and others were needed to do the actual work. Today we would call these people “common labourers,” but they were anything but common.

These were notable workers. They needed no one to check up on them because they always dealt faithfully. They did not need to “punch a clock” or be supervised. These folks had a rare character in that they could always be trusted to do their work.

How do we measure up when compared to these men? Do we have the kind of character that means that we don’t need anyone to check up on us? It can be challenging to be a faithful worker when there is no clock to punch or supervisor to watch us. These “common labourers” should be a challenge to us all.

 

Tuesday February 21, 2006

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied" (I Peter 1:1-2).
The contrast in this opening salutation of the apostle Peter, written apparently to Jewish Christians scattered throughout the five key Roman provinces in Asia Minor, is striking. In the eyes of the world, these persecuted believers were "strangers" (or better, "pilgrims"), but in the eyes of God, they were the elect!
Furthermore, the entire Godhead had been involved in their election. They had been foreknown by God the Father, then sanctified (or set apart") by the Holy Spirit, and then had come in obedience to God's word through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Although their position on earth was very humble and fragile, their real citizenship was in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and they were, to God, "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (I Peter 2:9).
No wonder, therefore, that Peter could greet them with the invocation, "Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied." It is interesting that Paul began all his church epistles with "grace and peace." But Peter desired that grace be multiplied by peace!
Each of these wonderful provisions of God is inexhaustible: "God is able to make all grace abound toward you" (II Corinthians 9:8). "The peace of God...passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). Infinite grace, multiplied by infinite peace, must equal infinite love and everlasting life. What a blessing to be strangers and pilgrims on the earth, but among God's elect in heaven!

 

Wednesday, 22nd February, 2006

They feared the Lord, but served their own gods

“They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.” - 2 Kings 17v33

When the king of Assyria repopulated Samaria with foreign peoples they naturally brought their own false gods with them. This displeased the Lord and He sent a pack of lions and some of the people were killed. The people quickly determined that God was not happy, so sent for someone to teach them about Him.

After they were taught, they decided that they had room for this new God and added Him to their religious practices. The “feared the Lord and they served their own gods.”

In some places in the world today this is still a real problem. People make a profession of faith and then just add God to their religious practices. Sometimes they just add that prayer to what they are counting on, but go on with their other practices as well. They never put their full faith in Christ.

It is even sadder when Christians decide that they are going to fear the Lord, but continue serving their gods of lust, materialism, greed, pride, etc. They want to fear the Lord, but they love their practices too much to give them up. When we do this, we are no better than the people who “feared the Lord, but served their own gods.”

 

Thursday February 23, 2006

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9)
This fantastic promise refers back to another great promise given by God to His people: "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him" (Isaiah 64:4).
The Old Testament promise applied primarily to the nation of Israel, but its New Testament extension incorporates it in a global promise to all who love the Lord of glory, "crucified" by "the princes of this world" (I Corinthians 2:8), the One who was also the Savior of the world.
Comparison of the two prophetic promises yields three vital truths. These things that God has prepared for His loved ones have been in view "since the beginning of the world," and have been revealed in part by the prophets, who have been speaking also "since the world began" (Luke 1:70).
Secondly, those who "wait for Him" in the Old Testament are synonymous with those who "love Him" in the New. The apostle Paul joins both themes together when he says: "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness...and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing" (II Timothy 4:8).
Finally, we cannot even begin to comprehend the glorious things God has prepared for those who love Him and wait for Him. In some measure, the Spirit later revealed them in part through John's eyes and ears, when he saw "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven," and heard "a great voice out of heaven saying...God Himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:2-3). Then our eyes shall fully see, and our ears hear, and our hearts understand, the fullness of God's love in Christ.

 

Friday, 24th February, 2006

Josiah did not turn aside to the right hand or the left

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” - 2 Kings 22v2

Josiah is one of my favourite kings. When he became king we read that he did that which was right. He walked in the ways of his father David. Not only that we read that he never veered off to the right or the left. Josiah had a complete dedication from which he would not be swayed. He stayed on the path. Nothing could turn him from his path of devotion.

Today we have all kinds of things standing alongside our paths calling us to turn aside. As we walk through Vanity Fair lust, greed, materialism, pride, and many others are calling out to us to just take a peek inside their tents. Satan does all he can to get us to turn aside from our path and follow after him and his minions. Our wicked flesh screams out for satisfaction.

What are we going to do? In front of us, loving encouraging us to keep our eyes on Him is our Saviour. To every side we have our enemies. Who are we going to follow? Are we going to stay on the path, or turn off to the right and left?

 

Monday February 27, 2006

"For, lo, He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is His thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is His name" (Amos 4:13).
The awesome ascription of judgmental power to God is in the midst of a dire prophecy by Amos to the ten-tribe northern kingdom of Israel. He had reminded them of earlier judgements, including even that of Sodom and Gomorrah, concluding with the fearsome warning: "prepare to meet thy God, O Israel" (Amos 4:12).
Then, in our next verse, He seems to carry them still further back in time to remind them of an even greater destruction. The great winds of the earth, like its rains, first blew over its surfaces at the time of the mighty Deluge (Genesis 8:1), and the present mountains of the earth likewise rose out of the churning waters of the Flood (Psalm 104:6-9). It was at the time of the Flood that dark clouds first obscured the sunlight which before had perpetually shown through the pre-Flood "waters which were above the firmament" (Genesis 1:7), which had then condensed and fallen to the earth in great torrents from "the windows of heaven" (7:11).
This awful judgment had come because the antediluvians, like the Israelites, had rejected their Creator and gone after other gods (6:5). As if to confirm that he was, indeed, referring to the Deluge, Amos, a few verses later, exhorted the Israelites to "Seek Him...that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth" (Amos 5:8).
It is dangerous and foolish for any nation or any person to question the true God of creation. He made all things, He knows all things, and He judges all things. "The Lord of hosts is His name."

 

Tuesday, 28th February, 2006


Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself

“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.” - 2 Kings 22v19

In a case nearly unique God used a woman here to serve as a prophet. The leaders took the book of the law to her to see what God is saying. Here prophecy was sobering – God was indeed going to judge Judah. Their sin had gone on too long and there were never really to repent.

However she had good news for the king. “Because you have a tender heart and you humbled yourself you are not going to see the destruction of the land. You will die in peace instead.

Josiah died physically in battle. His physical death was not peaceful, but he was able to die without the turmoil of watching his nation be destroyed. He also died in eternal peace knowing that he had pleased the Lord.

Josiah had a tender heart and he was humble. Obviously these are character traits that please God. How do we compare to Josiah in these two areas? Do I really have a tender heart? Am I truly humble? Our flesh rebels at the thought, but these things please God. The question is one of importance. Will I allow my flesh its satisfaction, or will I seek to please God as Josiah did?

 

"These are spots at your feasts of charity, when they feast with you,
feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried
about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead,
plucked up by the roots" (Jude 12).

We often speak of people who have been "born again" through faith in
Christ as being "twice born" men or women. Jude, however, here speaks
Of certain people who are "twice dead." Such people already, Jude says,
"were before of old ordained (or 'forewritten') to this condemnation,
ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (or
'anarchy') and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ"
(Jude 4).
Apparently there are some people who, even while still living, have
already been consigned to hell, and thus are not only "dead in
trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1, the innate condition of all men
until they are born again), but twice dead, already participating in the
second death. These are apostate teachers who have known and understood
the gospel of the grace of Christ and have even for a time presented an
outward appearance of teaching and believing Biblical truth-perhaps even
believing mentally that they had become disciples of Christ. But they
became apostates, repudiating true creationism and the doctrines of
salvation by grace through the saving work of Christ their Creator, even
though they had formerly taught these truths. "There remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins" (Hebrews 10:26) and they are forever apostate.
This description of such teachers in Jude (vv. 4-19) is a searing
condemnation of such deceivers, as well as a sober warning to any who
might be tempted to heed their false teachings. Rather, Jude exhorts us
to "earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 3).

 

Thursday, 2nd March, 2006

Jabez was more honourable

“And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bore him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” - 1 Chronicles 4v9-10

A few years ago someone came across this mention of a man in the list of names and decided that he had found a pain free way to success in what you wanted. Pray the prayer of Jabez for thirty days and watch God give you success in whatever area you are praying about. Unfortunately that idea has taken away from some of the real truths to be found here.

The Bible says that Jabez was more honourable than his brethren. Out of this huge list of names Jabez’ sticks out because he was an honourable man, because he had the faith to call upon the Lord, and because the Lord granted his requests.

Jabez asked God to bless him, the increase his land holdings, that God’s hand might be with him, and that he would be kept from evil. All of these are requests that we might incorporate into our prayers if we do so in an honourable way. Jabez was an honourable man who prayed honourable prayer and God heard him and answered. Whenever that happens we should pay attention.

There is no secret formula for success here, but there is an example of how an honourable man prays.

 

Friday March 3, 2006

"And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a child: I know not how to go out or come in" (IKings 3:7).
When Solomon became King of Israel and prayed this prayer, he was still in his teens. His prayer was for wisdom, and, with the many external enemies of Israel and the complex internal intrigues surrounding him in Jerusalem, he surely needed divine wisdom. God was pleased with this request, and granted it in abundance. This is a great example for teenage believers today, who, all too often, are confident they already are smarter than their parents and teachers, while seeming to care more about pleasure and possessions, or even religious emotionalism, than true wisdom.
God's word has much to say to such young people: "Remember now the days of thy youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Each of us has been created for a divine purpose, and the more years devoted to that purpose, the more fully it can be accomplished.
Note also Paul's counsel to young Timothy: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." "Flee also youthful lusts." "Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of...from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 4:12; II Timothy 2:22; 3:14-15).
With all the great wisdom God gave him in his youth, Solomon accomplished great things for God, even writing three books of the Bible. Sadly, he was wiser in youth than in old age, whereas many who exhibit great foolishness in their younger years seem to become wiser as they grow older. How much better, however, to seek and apply God's true wisdom to our lives!