Benefits of Exclusivity

HIGHLIGHT: 2 Chronicles 7:17 - As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ' You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel. But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples.

EXPLAIN: Solomon has just finished the temple and dedicated it to the Lord. He has just spent time praying that God would hear their prayers for help - in their life as a nation and even as individuals. Several times throughout chapters six and seven there is a theme that God is good, loves the people, and will take care of them. He even reminds them that during times of disciplines, God will restore life to them if they humbles themselves, turn from their wicked ways and seek God's face. (7:14).

God then turns to Solomon and strongly encourages him to walk faithfully by doing all that God has commanded. We actually see of the same wording in 1 Kings 3, where God (when Solomon asks for wisdom) requires Solomon to walk faithfully and do all that God has commanded. This has actually been a theme for God's words from the beginning (think of Adam - eat from any tree, just not that one).

Many see this as a threat from God to make Solomon do what he wants him to do. Instead of a threat, it is important to see this as a relational statement. There are always terms to any relationship, especially those that see themselves as exclusive. This is not exclusive as in no one else is allowed to speak or have a relationship with God or Solomon. This is a relationship, however, that God says there should be no other gods before me. Exclusive!

The exclusivity of the relationship has its rewards and consequences. If you, Solomon, walk before me faithfully and do all that I have commanded you, then you will see my promises continue. If you don't follow them, then life around you will change drastically.

APPLY: When we enter an exclusive relationship, no one bats an eye about the rule that we belong to each other and no one else. A girl friend would no be happy about their boy friend looking at other ladies. A husband who loves his wife would only want her to have eyes for him. Even in a job related, "we have an exclusive relationship," people get upset when people change companies or go with a different supplier.

Sure, here is an occasional, "I'm not jealous," quip, but that is typically followed with a, "I don't want to be tied down" which screams a "my rights" kind of thinking. That is certainly not a loving relationship that each party is seeking to build the other party up.

This is the key to the statement - God is seeking a relationship with Solomon, the same way he does with each of us. A relationship where he has pledged to take care of us, provide for us, breathe life into us and give peace, hope and joy throughout life. Those things only come, however, when we are completely focused on Him.

Why do these things only come when we are focused on Him? Does he take them away, if we don't?

God does not literally take them away, or even withhold them. However, he has given us freedom of choice. We can choose to trust him, or we can look elsewhere. The moment we start looking some other place, in something else, we have made our choice to walk away from where peace, hope and love are actually found.

God loves me, and you, to the point that He wants to provide all we need in life. He has our best interest at the center of His heart. We cannot make Him love us less or make Him love us more. He loves us even to the point that He will not take away our choice of where to look for life to its fullest.

So where are you looking for love, hope and peace? The word of God for you and me this morning is based on His love. God say to look to Him, the author and finisher of faith, and He will give you life to the fullest. Look in other places, and you will be fully disappointed, because they cannot provide what you are looking for.

RESPONSE: God, give me eyes of clear focus - seeing you as the giver of life in the here and now, as well as the ever after. Help me to see you and then follow you with full obedience.