1Kings 9: 10-end Debt and Slavery

INTRODUCTION:

·       This week’s message is very practical.  We will look at three topics that either knowingly or unknowingly we wrestle with in our lives.

·       Money (debt), slavery (more specifically to what), and ambition. 

SCENE 1: Too much ?  (10-14)

·       We know that King David supplied some of the gold used in the building projects.

When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued — 2 Samuel 8:9-11 (CSB)

·       An outline of the deal between King Hiram and King Solomon in 1Kings 5 only mentions cedar and cypress timber.  We now know that he also provided a large amount of gold (4 ½ tons!)

·       It appears that it was time for King Solomon to pay his debt.  He does this by giving 20 cities to King Hiram. 

·       Was this a hint of an unhealthy desire for King Solomon to have gold?

Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold!  And get understanding — it is preferable to silver. — Proverbs 16:16 (CSB)

·       The agreement in 1Kings 5 was repayment was to be, “You then can meet my needs by providing my household with food.” — 1 Kings 5:9 (CSB)

·       Was King Solomon guilty of giving away land (cities) that the LORD had set aside and given to Israel?

BIBILICAL PRINCIPAL:  God calls us to be good stewards, especially of our finances.

Debt:

1.     Borrowing makes you . 

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender. — Proverbs 22:7 (CSB)

2.     is not sinful, neither by the lender or the borrower.

Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest collects it for one who is kind to the poor. — Proverbs 28:8 (CSB)

3.     Borrowing without repaying is sinful; it is a form of .

The wicked person borrows and does not repay, but the righteous one is gracious and giving. — Psalm 37:21 (CSB)

4.     Borrowing is . 

Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans. If you have nothing with which to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you. — Proverbs 22:26-27 (CSB)

·       Debt can lead to spiritual, phycological, marital, and economic problems. 

Tips on deciding about debt:

WHEN NOT TO BORROW:

1)     Borrowing is when a possession’s resale value is less than the amount owed.

2)     Borrowing is wrong when it violates your convictions.

3)     Borrowing is when it causes us to rob God in tithes and offerings to repay lenders.

“Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies. Yet you ask, “How can we return? ” “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! ” “How do we rob you? ” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. You are suffering under a curse, yet you ​— ​the whole nation ​— ​are still robbing me.  Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. — Malachi 3:7-10 (CSB)

4)     Borrowing is wrong when our monthly payments leave us little freedom to respond to opportunities, hand emergencies, or respond to God’s leading.

WHEN TO CONSIDER BORROWING:

1)     Economic return must be greater than the economic cost.

2)     There should be a realistically certain way to repay the amount borrowed.

3)     If married, your spouse agree with the debt.

SCENE 2: to something.  (15-23)

·       Was the use of forced labor acceptable to the LORD or not?

·       Were the inhabitants of the land a result of King Saul’s failure to obey the complete destruction of Israel’s enemies detailed in 1Samuel 15 and 28?

·       Did King Solomon go too far in the use of this forced labor in the building projects listed? 

However, he must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire many horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ He must not acquire many wives for himself so that his heart won’t go astray. He must not acquire very large amounts of silver and gold for himself. — Deuteronomy 17:16-17 (CSB)

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:  It is possible to accomplish things in life for the LORD, and to drift to continue with “good things”, but they are now “whatever SOLOMON desired to build”, and not for the LORD at all.  If you continue in these apparent “good things” you will become a slave to them. 

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them. For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them.  It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and, “A washed sow returns to wallowing in the mud.” — 2 Peter 2:19-22 (CSB)

·       The context for 2Peter 2 is false teachers, but the principle can carry over.  Do not make the mistake, as you will see King Solomon will do, of becoming a slave to what you desire, even if the face of that desire appears to be good. 

SCENE 3: Sorting . 

1.     Moving to a new house. 

2.     Religious activity.

3.     Adding security.

4.     Adding wealth.

·       How do we know what opportunities to pursue, and which ones are a trap?

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. — Matthew 6:33-34 (CSB)

EMERALD CITY:

1.     What are you slave to?  (Romans 6: 15-23)

2.     Are you a slave to opportunity, only if…?”

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content ​— ​whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.  I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. — Philippians 4:11-13 (CSB)

In context, “I am able to all things”, is the ability to be alright with an absence of opportunity.