1 Kings 6:11-13 - Relationship over service

Scripture:

1 Kings 6:11-13
11 Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon saying,
12 "Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father.
13 " I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel."
NASU


Thoughts:

The Lord is reminding Solomon of the value He places on a consistent walk with Him.  Solomon is doing a wonderful work building the temple, but the Lord wants more than what his hands can produce in this instance, He desires for Solomon to walk in His ways.

This is poignant for us, too. We may find ourselves thinking, as Solomon must have been tempted to, that some thing we have done for God replaces our need to walk with Him, daily.  But God wants our hearts and lives, not simply an act of devotion here or there. 

We tend to just want to give the Lord things in an effort to show we're still in touch with Him.  We may give to our local church or a ministry financially, or perhaps we serve in some way.  All of these are good things, but God prizes a relationship with us above all else. He wants a daily walk with us.  Shouldn't we feel the same?  Shouldn't our desire be to be connected to Him, not to try and merely appease Him somehow with offerings?


Prayer:

Lord, I give You my heart.  I want to walk daily with You, including today.  Thank You that I can because of Jesus' sacrifice on my behalf.

And Lord, I thank You that my right standing before You is completely based on what Christ has done and not on my own ability.  I could never do anything as grand as Solomon, if that's what You required.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.