As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 1 Kings 11:4
“Let those whom temporal adversity humiliates take joy from hope of an eternal inheritance, since divine providence would not curb them in order to educate them under the rule of discipline . . .
Those, therefore, who in respect of the temporal things which they covet, are wearied with the labour of adversity are to be admonished to consider carefully how for the most part even the righteous, when temporal power exalts them, are caught by sin as in a snare . . .
Who then can without harm seek wealth, or power, or glory, if they proved harmful even to him who had them unsought? Who in the midst of these things shall be saved without the labour of a great contest, if he who had been prepared for them by the choice of God was disturbed among them by the intervention of sin?
They are to be admonished to consider that Solomon, who after so great wisdom is described as having fallen even into idolatry, is not said to have had any adversity in this world before his fall; but the wisdom that had been granted him entirely left his heart, because not even the least discipline of tribulation had guarded it.”
Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) in Pastoral Rule 3.26. Gregory received the label “the Great” because he was a deep Christian thinker and a prolific writer.
As you may recall, “providence” is my word for 2017. I am tracing it through church history linked to generosity. We have made it to the seventh century.
Here Gregory urges those experiencing temporal difficulty to adopt the “rule of discipline” and not seek after wealth to save them, but trust in “divine providence” as their deliverance.
It’s fascinating that idolatry marked the demise of the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon. Gregory advises us that we cannot “without harm seek wealth.” Paul echoes that wisdom in the NT (cf. 1 Timothy 6:6-10).
What’s the lesson for us today?
We must avoid (at all cost!) seeking after wealth as the answer to our problems, lest it betray us. Instead, seek after God (cf. Matthew 6:33). Let that be our “rule of discipline” for we can trust in “divine providence” to care for us.
God’s got us! He’s got you. He’s got me. Let’s live like we believe it!