The High Price of an Unguarded Heart

The High Price of an Unguarded Heart 1 Kings 11 September 12, 2021 The Big Idea: In wisdom Solomon declared that of all the valuables in our lives the heart is what needs to be guarded. In folly, he failed to guard his own heart. Personal and spiritual ruin will always follow an unguarded heart, while Scripture promises that for the ones who trust fully in the Lord, the peace of God will guard their hearts. place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. 11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. The Wild Success of Solomon: ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü The wisdom of God in his life and rule Management of massive construction projects, including the Temple The admiration and envy of world rulers Became an expert in plant and animal life Wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs Wealth beyond our ability to calculate -- $1.4 trillion in gold in one year and “silver as common as stone” in Jerusalem Built a military power that few would challenge – 1,400 chariots, 12,000 horsemen, and a navy Formed political alliances with countries that otherwise might threaten Israel 1 Kings 11 (ESV) 11 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart . 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God , as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 Unguarded Hearts are Especially Susceptible to These Things: 1. 2. 3. 4. Pride in the successes of life. [Proverbs 16:18] Personal carelessness in mid to later life. [1 Corinthians 10:12] Being “unequally yoked” spiritually [2 Corinthians 6:14] Diminished spiritual discipline [Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28] How to Guard My Heart 1. Watch my heart in the “little things” of life. 2. Refuse to believe that a moral and spiritual fall just couldn’t happen to me. 3. Reject the notion that God needs me to get His work done. My gifts will not keep me from a fall. In fact, pride in those gifts may lead to a fall. 4. Regularly answer the question “To what am I clinging?” 5. Stay calm, prayerful, and grateful. do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV) 6