TWO

Two Men Of Passion

 

King Solomon and the Apostle Paul.

The difference between them lay in the focus of their passion:

* Solomon’s passion was directed away from God by his affection for the things of this world:

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.  (1 Kings 11:4)

* Paul’s passion, by contrast, was redirected from self-righteous legalism toward knowing Christ:

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (Phil 3:7-8)

Solomon expended his life on pleasure:

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.  (Eccl 2:10)

Paul, by comparison, invested his life in making Christ known:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.  (Col 1:28-29)

HOW DID THESE TWO MEN OF PASSION END UP?

Solomon became bitter and disappointed in his old age:

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. (Eccl 2:17-18)

Paul, however completed his life with a profound sense of accomplishment and anticipation:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  (2 Tim 4:7-8)

TWO QUESTIONS:

(1) Where is the focus of our passion? On ourselves, or on the Glory of God?

(2) How will we end up? Like Solomon, or like Paul?