Reading for today: 1 Kings 14:1-20 and 1 Timothy 5:20-21

“I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” 1 Timothy 5:21

Even though some have been placed in positions of leadership within the church, no one is to be given special treatment.  We are all sinners saved by grace, and forgetting that simple fact will result in a false witness to the world.  Christ died for all and we are to love all equally as God did for us.

Reading for today: 1 Kings 13:1-34 and 1 Timothy 5:19

“Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.”
 1 Timothy 5:19

Church leadership must be Spirit-led in appointing the responsibility of eldership to men who have proven themselves to be faithful servants, yet no man is above temptation and even one who has faithfully walked with God can stumble.  However, false accusations and gossip can destroy a church, so if we believe we have seen a church leader in sin we must be willing to address the issue in an open, truthful manner in order that the situation can be resolved wisely.  But even before we address a matter publicly, we are commanded to do so directly and lovingly to the one who is accused.

Reading for today: 1 Kings 12:25-33 and 1 Timothy 5:18

“For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’
and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” 1 Timothy 5:18

Although Paul chose to work at his trade to earn his keep while he served God as a
missionary spreading the Gospel, he recognized that the church needed servants to
remain behind to build the church, and that these people needed an income in order to focus on their call.  In order for those faithful servants who have been called to lead the church to earn their wages, it requires that others faithfully give.  If we are in a church that is faithful to the Great Commission, we have an obligation to support that work with our time and of the wealth that has been entrusted to us.

Reading for today: 1 Kings 12:1-24 and 1 Timothy 5:17

“But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.” 1 Kings 12:8

As the old saying goes, those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.  Here, Rehoboam ignores the lessons of history by rejecting the wise counsel of his father Solomon’s advisors and instead listens to men who appeal to his ego.  In the Bible we have thousands of year’s worth of God-given lessons that can guide us through life, but if we choose to ignore the Word of God and satisfy our flesh, we will repeat the hard lessons learned by Rehoboam and others whose stories are recorded in holy scripture.

Reading for today: 1 Kings 11:26-43 and 1 Timothy 5:14-16
 
“And to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there.” 1 Kings 11:36

Despite Solomon’s failings and the subsequent consequences, God remains true to His promise to David – that his kingdom would be established forever (2 Samuel 27:16). How amazing it is to know that God stays true to His promises, despite our human shortcomings.  And in the case of David, His promise led to the coming of the Messiah through David’s line, a blessing to the entire world.

Reading for today: 1 Kings 11:14-25 and 1 Timothy 5:11-13

“And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”
1 Timothy 5:13

Here Paul speaks about the danger of idleness.  Though placed within the context of younger widows, we all must guard against becoming idle in our walks and giving the enemy a chance to step in.  May we not become idle Christians, but may we continually seek to grow more in our faith everyday and live our faith out in our lives.

Reading for today: 1 Kings 11:1-13 and 1 Timothy 5:9-10

“For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.”
1 Kings 11:4

Though Solomon sought to glorify the Lord in many areas of his life, in one area he let sin creep in by taking foreign wives who turned him away from the Lord.  Is there an area of your life right now that is turning your eyes from Him?  May we be resolute in guarding our lives against the sin that so easily creeps in, and may we keep from setting up our own idols in our hearts.

Reading for today: 1 Kings 10:14-29 and 1 Timothy 5:8

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

Placed in the context of caring for widows, these strong words from Paul show the incredible importance of caring for one’s family members when they are in need.  Our faith must be backed up by our actions (James 2:17), and that begins with our own household.  If even unbelievers know to care for their own, how much more should the children of God care for the ones in their families?

Reading for today: 1 Kings 10:1-13 and 1 Timothy 5:5-7

“Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.” 1 Kings 10:9

It was Solomon’s divinely bestowed wisdom that drove the queen of Sheba to bring praise to the Lord.  May we use the gifts God has given us to “let our light shine” (Matthew 5:16) in the world, not bringing glory to ourselves but to our Father in Heaven by drawing people to Him.  How can you use the gifts God has given you to let your light shine today?

Reading for today: 1 Kings 9:10-28 and 1 Timothy 5:3-4

“Now three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the LORD, and he burned incense with them on the altar that was before the LORD.  So he finished the temple.”
1 Kings 9:25

Here we see Solomon taking time to worship God in light of what He had done.  These three times a year most likely refer to the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, all times when God miraculously worked in the lives of the Israelites.  Now with the completion of the temple, the Israelites had even more to be thankful for.  Take the time today to worship God for the work he has done (and is continuing to do!) in your life.