OPINION: HARRY MARTINEZ: Whose way?

Apr. 3—An interesting phenomenon is unfolding before our eyes. Man discovers God's resources to benefit life on earth, but then claims that they are harmful to use. It is doubtful that the problem is with God. It reminds one of the Scripture ... "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater" (Isa 55:8-10 NIV).

King Solomon of Israel was not lacking in riches, pleasure, knowledge and wisdom. He was God's human instrument for three Biblical writings. The Proverbs are rich in instruction for living life wisely. The beauty of Song of Solomon regarding the love relationship in marriage between a man and a woman is unsurpassed in literature. Ecclesiastes reveals the thinking of this ruler when he was out of the will of God. He states that he tried everything in search of fulfillment, joy, lasting relationships and satisfaction. He concluded that it was all futility... "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun" (Eccl 2:10-11NIV).

David, nearing death, instructed Solomon ... "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel" (1 Kings 2:2-4 NIV).

Solomon purposed to follow God during his reign ... "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" (1 Kings 3:7-9 NIV)

God answered Solomon's prayer ... "The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, 'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. and if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life' (1 Kings 3:10-14 NIV).

Though Solomon failed to consistently walk with the Lord, he had placed his faith in the future sacrifice of the Lamb of God. He recovered spiritually by admitting His sin and wrote ... "here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man" (Eccl 12:13 NIV).