Q3. Obedience

[Pastor Ralph]

Q3. (1 Kings 2:2-3) David charges Solomon to observe God’s commandments. Why are we tempted to break God’s commandments as a means to an end, such as lying to win political points or job advancement? What does obedience have to do with prosperity?

[Lillie Ammann]

We are innately sinful and selfish. We want what we want when we want it, so that means it's tempting to use any means we think will work, including lying, to accomplish the ends we desire. I don't see any connection between obedience and prosperity. We will not automatically become prosperous if we follow God's commands. 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Many of the promises in the Bible are conditional. The fourfold Davidic covenant is based on one condition: disobedience in the Davidic family is to be visited with chastisement; not the abrogation of the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:15; Psalm 89: 20-37; Isaiah 24:5; 54:3).

Christians end up in a backsliding state due to pride and lack of mortifying the flesh.  Their focus is on themselves not on Christ as the Captain and Author of their faith.

Prosperity for the Christian is both maternal and immaterial.   In God's divine providence, we have ALL THINGS pertaining to our salvation.  In Christ, we have rich spiritual blessings.  We are beckoned to believe in the full soteria as laid out in the New Testament:  spiritual and material blessings are all in the "soteria".  In God's timing and in His divine will, we are blessed. Obedience to the divine mandates in the Bible are necessary for the true Christian.

[Rolande]

Q3. (1 Kings 2:2-3) David charges Solomon to observe God’s commandments. Why are we tempted to break God’s commandments as a means to an end, such as lying to win political points or job advancement? What does obedience have to do with prosperity?

"  I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you mayest prosper in all that  thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself." (1 Kings 2: 2,3) KJV . In 1 Kings 2:2-3, King David is giving his son Solomon some parting advice before his own death. He instructs Solomon to be strong, to observe the requirements of the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to keep His decrees, commands, laws, and regulations. David emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands for Solomon's prosperity and success. One biblical example of breaking God's commandment as a means to an end is found in the story of King Saul in the Old Testament. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul disobeys God's command to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions. Instead, he spares the Amalekite king, Agag, and some of the best livestock. Saul justifies his actions by intending to sacrifice the livestock to God, but ultimately, his disobedience leads to God rejecting him as king.

In the worldly realm, we often see examples of people compromising their principles or breaking ethical standards to achieve political points or job advancement. For instance, a politician might lie or manipulate facts to gain support from voters or smear an opponent's reputation for personal gain. Similarly, in the corporate world, employees might engage in unethical behavior such as falsifying reports or deceiving colleagues to climb the corporate ladder.

In both biblical and worldly examples, the temptation to break God's commandments or ethical standards as a means to an end arises from the desire for power, success, or self-interest. However, the consequences of such actions can be severe, leading to moral decay, loss of trust, and ultimately, spiritual or personal downfall.

CONCEPT OF THE INNER MAN/OUTER MAN 

King David's teachings to his son Solomon in 1 Kings 2 can be linked to the concepts of the inner man and the outer man.

Inner Man: When King David instructs Solomon to be strong, to observe the requirements of the Lord, and to walk in His ways, he is emphasizing the importance of nurturing the inner man. David encourages Solomon to prioritize his relationship with God and to cultivate spiritual strength and integrity. This aligns with the concept of focusing on the inner self—the state of the heart and the character—rather than solely on outward appearances or achievements.
Outer Man: David's advice to Solomon also includes practical instructions for dealing with external matters, such as carrying out justice and executing judgments. While these actions pertain to the outer man—dealing with worldly affairs and responsibilities—they are to be conducted in accordance with God's laws and principles. Thus, even in matters of governance and leadership, Solomon is reminded to maintain integrity and righteousness, ensuring that his external actions align with the values of his inner self.
Balance and Harmony: David's teachings to Solomon emphasize the importance of balancing the inner and outer aspects of life. While external actions and responsibilities are significant, they must be rooted in a strong foundation of spiritual integrity and obedience to God. By following God's commands and walking in His ways, Solomon can achieve success and prosperity not only in the worldly sense but also in the eyes of God.
In this way, King David's guidance to his son reflects the holistic approach of prioritizing spiritual growth and moral character (inner man) while engaging responsibly with external duties and responsibilities (outer man). David's teachings serve as a model for achieving balance and harmony between the inner and outer aspects of life, ultimately leading to true fulfillment and success.

What does obedience have to do with prosperity?

In the context of King David's teachings to his son Solomon, obedience to God's commands is closely linked to prosperity. This connection can be understood in several ways:

Divine Favour: Throughout the Bible, there is a consistent theme that obedience to God's commands leads to divine favour and blessings. When individuals align their actions with God's will and follow His precepts, they open themselves to receive His guidance, protection, and provision. King David himself experienced this firsthand; despite facing numerous challenges and enemies, David prospered because he remained faithful to God and followed His commands.

Consequences of Disobedience: Conversely, disobedience to God's commands often leads to negative consequences. In the biblical narrative, we see examples of individuals who suffered setbacks and hardships because of their disobedience. For instance, King Saul's disobedience resulted in God rejecting him as king (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Thus, obedience is linked to prosperity in the sense that it helps individuals avoid pitfalls and consequences that may hinder their success and well-being.

Alignment with God's Purposes: Obedience to God's commands signifies a willingness to align one's life with His purposes and values. When individuals obey God, they demonstrate trust in His wisdom and sovereignty. This alignment with God's purposes positions individuals to fulfill their God-given potential and to participate in His plans for their lives. In this sense, prosperity is not merely material wealth but also encompasses spiritual flourishing and fulfillment of one's purpose.

Character Development: Obedience to God's commands plays a crucial role in shaping one's character. It fosters virtues such as humility, integrity, and faithfulness, which are essential for long-term success and prosperity. As individuals cultivate these qualities through obedience, they are better equipped to navigate challenges, build meaningful relationships, and make wise decisions that contribute to their overall well-being and prosperity.

In summary, obedience to God's commands is intricately connected to prosperity because it invites divine favour, helps individuals avoid negative consequences, aligns them with God's purposes, and fosters character development conducive to success and fulfillment. King David's teachings emphasize the importance of obedience as a pathway to prosperity, both in the spiritual and material dimensions of life.

[Krissi]

 

To what commandments is David referring? Is he pointing to the myriad of laws and regulations that have undoubtedly emerged, particularly around the priesthood and sacrificial system? The Ten Commandments? If David is referring to the Ten Commandments, then it’s interesting that he would command his son to uphold the same basic moral minimum to which we all must obey.

 The Ten Commandments were written for all people, not just kings.

Everything in the Christian life is conditional except our salvation, which we cannot lose. Every promise is predicated on faith or behavior. That’s why we see so few of those promises actualized in our lives. It’s also why it feels as if we have to earn our salvation or sanctification. Nothing comes easily!

We’re tempted to break the Ten Commandments because we’re sinful. Our core nature, yet to be redeemed fully, asserts itself constantly – it is our constant battle to subdue our inner self. Such self-discipline is a synonym for obedience.

I’m not sure obedience and prosperity are connected as I’ve known many very good and obedient Christians who struggle financially. I’ve also known a few Christians who are quite wealthy and unable to handle wealth, prestige and power.

A glorious thing to behold, in my wee opinion, is a worldly-powerful/wealthy/famous Christian who remains humble, giving and concerned for others. We need more of these people.

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q3. (1 Kings 2:2-3)

David charges Solomon to observe God's commandments. Why are we tempted to break God's commandments as a means to an end, such as lying to win political points or job advancement?

We are living in a world of the seen and unseen or the natural and supernatural, the flesh and the spirit. Because men wants to see, feel and touch it is easy for men to please the seen, natural and the flesh. 

What does obedience have to do with prosperity?

Obedience is the first act to the key that unlocks what GOD has install for us. If it is health, yes. If it is to prosper GOD's way, yes. 

[Niyonka16]

Q3. (1 Kings 2:2-3) David charges Solomon to observe God’s commandments. Why are we tempted to break God’s commandments as a means to an end, such as lying to win political points or job advancement? ANSWER: People stop following the 10 Commandments because people arbitrarily 'slice' God's law up into moral and ceremonial laws, or into cultic and ethical commandments.

What does obedience have to do with prosperity?

ANSWER: If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. The rewards for obedience are clear: You will be blessed where ever you go. Your children will be blessed. God will protect you. He will grant you abundant prosperity.

Obedience leads to prosperity. THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO BE BLESSED BY GOD THAN TO BE OBEDIENT. NO ONE CAN OUTSMART THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. TO CONSTANTLY PRAY FOR BLESSING. Obedience to God bring automatic long life and prosperity, so if you want to live long, obey God. It is clearly stated in his word. (Ephesians 6:1-3

[David H Lyabaya]

Solomon took over the throne while he was young and naïve. When a person is in leadership pride comes in and he starts glorifying himself instead of giving the glory to God. He start doing thing without the council of God. This is what David was warning Solomon about.

We always look for easy ways to sort problems which in the long run makes us portray us as fraud or liars. We should be bold enough to accept our short comings and deal with issues directly

 

[hanks]

Q3. (1 KINGS 2:2-3) 
David charges Solomon to observe God's commandments. Why are we tempted to break God's commandments as a means to an end, such as lying to win political points or job advancement? What does obedience have to do with prosperity? 
We are sinners by nature and easily fall prey to greed, wealth, and power. We might also be easily tempted since this seems to be the normal behaviour in the world today. This reminds me of Deu 5:33a, “Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper.” If we forget God’s glory and His love for us, we will have trouble obeying His commandments. He has told us that His commandments are to be upon our hearts (Deu 6:6). This reminds me of God’s instructions to Joshua before entering the land of milk and honey: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). Today we think that prosperity and success come by having power and contacts. But true prosperity comes not from these world standards but from living in obedience to God’s will and His Word. God requires us to walk in His ways, to keep His commands and laws – to be strong and obey the Word of God. 
 

[Katy]

Q3. If we have our eyes focused on worldly matters we may be tempted to take short cuts to getting what we desire to have: cheating on tax returns, boosting our C. V.’s to help us get a better job, etc. If we do this we may not be walking close to God. If we are daily spending time in God’s presence, praying studying His Word, although tempted we will not displease and grieve God by doing wrong things. 
Obedience will bring spiritual prosperity, and a clear conscience but it will not bring worldly prosperity. If are doing the right things in life in

the hope of gaining worldly prosperity then we are totally missing the point. We should be obeying God because we love Him, and desire to please and not grieve Him, and also in thanksgiving for all He did for us at Calvary and every day. 

[Clelie]

God desires obedience to Him so His perfect will be done in our lives .

why are we tempted to break God’s commands as a means to an end…..? It’s walking in the flesh ,not in the Spirit which is contrary to God’s perfect will for us.

Obedience to God’s commands brings all kinds of blessings  that satisfy our needs ,not only wealth but “ seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,and all these shall be added unto you including prosperity to be enjoyed for His glory.