This year, I entered into a new age bracket—the forties. Unlike the unsettling twenties where many of life’s major decisions are often made (such as choosing a career or deciding who to marry) and the tumultuous thirties (where one may be establishing a career or working towards financial stability), for some the forties mean a time of greater peace. This has been true for me: I find my life settling into a new, calm state. I’m not sure how long this feeling will last, but for now at least, I’m enjoying peace and contentment.
In 1 Kings 6, the Israelites were also enjoying some peace and contentment. It was “480 years after the people of Israel [had been] rescued from their slavery in the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 6:1). During this period, the nation had gone from the unsettling years of wandering in the desert to establishing their nation in the Promised Land. Now, under Solomon’s rule, the people of Judah and Israel “were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink” and “all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety” (1 Kings 4:20,25).
During this time, Solomon “began to construct the Temple of the Lord” (1 Kings 6:1). Of this verse, one Bible teacher commented: “We ought to see the time of peace and prosperity as an opportunity to do great things for the Lord!”
That’s a good reminder for me. Instead of allowing my current bliss to lull me into complacency, I should seize this moment of peace to serve God and to use the resources He’s blessed me with for His kingdom.
Jesus tells us: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously” (Matthew 6:33). These words apply to all seasons of life—whether we have little or plenty. And should God bless us with more, may we enjoy His blessings as well as consider how we can use them for His glory.