2 April | Teens
«Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.» 1 Kings 11: 11
Solomon's story is like a roller coaster, full of ups and downs. In the beginning, Solomon was known to be extremely wise, a king who had everything under control and who built an incredible temple for God. But even though he was so clever, Solomon began to make decisions that were not pleasing to God. He forgot important rules for the people of Israel, such as not marrying people who worshipped other gods. Unfortunately, he ended up doing this too many times! He married a thousand women! Because of these choices, Solomon's heart turned away from God, and he began to worship other gods along with his wives.
God was not at all happy about this and warned Solomon that his kingdom would be divided because of his apostasies. This shows that no matter how smart, wealthy, or powerful someone may be, turning away from God and ignoring His commandments can lead to serious problems. Solomon's life teaches us that we should keep our heart faithful to God and follow His teachings, even when everything seems to be going well. Even if we think we're smart enough not to make mistakes.
Take Action
Take a piece of paper and write something that helps you remember to be close to God every day. It could be a phrase, a Bible verse, or even a picture. Put this reminder in a place you see every day, like on your closet door or on the cover of your notebook. This can help you remember to stay faithful to God!