want or wanton?
"The Lord said to Solomon: 'Since this is what you want...'" —1 Kings 11:11
Solomon made a great start in following the Lord. In his youth, God presented Solomon with the chance to have anything he wanted (1 Kgs 3:5ff). Solomon chose wisdom, so as to rule God's people with understanding and justice. God was pleased with Solomon's choice (1 Kgs 3:10).
Later in life, however, Solomon used his God-given power to indulge his own wanton desires rather than fulfilling God's desires. He fell so far into lust and idolatry that his heart turned away from the Lord. Solomon didn't want God anymore, and he therefore deprived himself of the kingdom (see 1 Kgs 11:11).
One day of unfaithfulness and wantonness leads to the next day of sin. After a while, Solomon's heart was far from the Lord. Unfaithfulness was what Solomon wanted (1 Kgs 11:11), and the bitter consequences of unfaithfulness is what he got (see Rm 6:23).
Faithfulness to God consists in daily seeking God, His way of righteousness, and His kingship over us (see Mt 6:33). Every day we Christians must pick up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus (Lk 9:23). If we want God, we can find Him (Jer 29:13-14). He is always seeking us and waiting for us to want Him.
Discipleship is all in the wanting. What do you want?
Prayer: Father, let me be faithful to Your teaching, and never let me be parted from You.
Promise: "Happy are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just." —Ps 106:3
Praise: A near fatal accident made Timothy realize it was not yet too late to get right with his Lord. He repented, and now spends his life bearing fruit for the kingdom of God.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 16, 2005
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