E-pistle for March 3, 2006
Posted by: info <info@...>
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President
Freeway Foundation March 3, 2006
First, Get Your Priorities RIGHT!
(I Kings 3:1-28)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Solomon married a daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh to seal a treaty
between the two nations; Solomon loved the Lord, but, like all the
Israelites, he offered sacrifices to God on the high places, vv. 1-4.
2. The Lord appeared in a dream to Solomon at Gibeon, offering to give
him whatever he requested; Solomon asked for an understanding
heart to rule the people justly, vv. 5-9.
3. The Lord was pleased with Solomon's request; He granted him wisdom,
plus riches, honor and a long life; Solomon awoke, sacrificed offerings,
to God, and made a celebrative feast for his court, vv. 10-15.
4. An example of Solomon's practical wisdom is recorded: two mothers
each claimed that the living infant of two newborn boys belonged to
her, and that the dead child belonged to the other woman; Solomon
ordered that the surviving child be divided by the sword, with half
being given to each woman; the true mother was revealed as the one
who told the executioner to spare the child and give him to the other
claimant, vv. 16-28.
II. Meditation: on King Solomon's prayer (vv. 6-9)
1. Solomon first thanked the Lord for His mercy and kindness shown to
his father David, and for establishing his dynasty as promised, v. 6.
2. Solomon humbly confessed his weakness and his lack of wisdom and
experience to reign as the king, v. 7.
3. Solomon acknowledged that his position was that of a servant to
God's
great and numerous chosen people, v. 8.
4. Solomon asked the Lord for an understanding heart to judge God's
people and for wisdom to be able to discern between good and evil,
v. 9.
III. Revelation: on the Lord God's answer to Solomon's
prayer (vv. 10-14)
1. The Lord was pleased with Solomon, commending him for not selfishly
asking for long life, riches, or military victories, vv. 10-11.
2. The Lord granted Solomon a wise and understanding heart above any
other man, v. 12.
3. As a bonus, the Lord also gave Solomon wealth and prestige, v. 13.
4. The Lord promised Solomon a long, happy, peaceful, prosperous
life . . . if he continued to walk obediently in the way of God, v. 14.
IV. Application: as a Christian, I need to get my priorities
right . . .
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you," Matthew 6:33.
"The Golden Knife"
Dr. Curt Scarborough
Percy Longnecker was the Eddie Haskell of the 1940's . . . 'way
before TV
even thought about leaving anything to Beaver. Percy was the good little
boy who
always knew his "memory verse" letter-perfect. He was the first kid to
shoot up his
hand and wave it around when the Sunday School teacher asked a question. He
always volunteered for the glamorous assignments . . . like carrying the
flag in the
VBS parade . . . and the easily-taken-in leaders invariably picked him!
Percy never missed Sunday School, and he had a chest full of
"Perfect
Attendance" medals to prove it. In fact, attendance wasn't his only virtue,
to hear
him tell it. He was perfect in every way, and he flaunted his moral
superiority
every day of the week . . . twice on Sundays! The rest of the boys in the
4th grade
Primary class at East Benton church despised him!
One Saturday evening, the guys and I dug a 4 X 6-foot tiger
trap, about a
foot deep, and filled it with cow manure. We carefully covered the hole
with grass
and leaves, and on Sunday morning we waited for Percy. At precisely 9:25
a.m.
he appeared in his white pants, starched shirt and bow tie, and navy jacket
with
two dozen brightly polished Perfect Attendance medals.
When he got near to the gang, I began showing them a beautiful
golden
knife (coated with brass to make it last), which I said I'd found down the
street.
Exactly on cue, Percy proclaimed it was his knife . . . that he'd lost it
Saturday
night. After a brief argument about "finders keepers," I suggested a race,
with
the winner claiming the golden knife as the grand prize. The route chosen
was
across the field, around the basketball goal, and back. On your mark!
Ready!
Set! GO!
We all lit out, but wouldn't you know it! I tweaked a
hamstring, and all
the rest of the fellows also pulled up lame. Percy hit the fishing line
we'd strung
across the path at full speed, flew through the air like a ruptured duck,
and plopped
face down in the tiger trap.
"Where's Percy?" asked Miss Boswell, our Sunday School teacher,
but
nobody in the class knew. "Did anybody learn today's memory verse?" she
asked.
She was shocked when I raised my hand and quoted Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes
before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Later, the story
leaked out,
and Percy was awarded a "Perfect Attendance" medal post-humus-ly. Talk
about injustice! He had been AWOL! To add insult to injury, my mom made me
give Percy the golden knife Uncle Bill had sent me for my birthday.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY: Lord, forgive my boastful, proud, haughty spirit
(II Timothy 3:1-2, 4); help me to
exhibit the true
humility of Jesus Christ, who came to
serve, not
to be served.
Pillsbury College & Seminary
Pillsbury College & Seminary is offering full tuition scholarships to the
first 100 Bi-Vocational pastors who register in 2006.
Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Simply fill out the
Registration Form that you can find at http://www.pillsburycs.org
<http://www.pillsburycs.org/> and mail it
along with a $50 registration fee and you will receive your first textbooks,
instructions, and an examination within approximately one week. You will
also be contacted by your personal mentor . . . an ordained minister who
has been assigned by Pillsbury College & Seminary to assist you in
earning your Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree.
If your have questions, please contact drcurt@pillsburycs.org or telephone
us at (314) 739-1121.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want
to test a man's character, give him power."
- Abraham Lincoln
--
To unsubscribe, send ANY messag