Lessons from the Life of Solomon
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men who will remain separate from the enemies of the truth. He calls
for men who will not dare to resort to the arm of flesh by entering into
partnership with worldlings in order to secure means for advancing His
work—even for the building of institutions. Solomon, by his alliances
with unbelievers, secured an abundance of gold and silver, but his
prosperity proved his ruin. Men today are no wiser than he, and they
are as prone to yield to the influences that caused his downfall. For
thousands of years Satan has been gaining an experience in learning
how to deceive; and to those who live in this age he comes with almost
overwhelming power. Our only safety is found in obedience to God’s
word, which has been given us as a sure guide and counselor. God’s
people today are to keep themselves distinct and separate from the
world, its spirit, and its influences.
“Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” Shall we hear
the voice of God and obey, or shall we make halfway work of the
matter, and try to serve God and Mammon? There is earnest work
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before each one of us. Right thoughts, pure and holy purposes, do
not come to us naturally. We shall have to strive for them. In all our
institutions, our publishing houses and colleges and sanitariums, pure
and holy principles must take root. If our institutions are what God
designs they should be, those connected with them will not pattern
after worldly institutions. They will stand as peculiar, governed and
controlled by the Bible standard. They will not come into harmony
with the principles of the world in order to gain patronage. No motives
will have sufficient force to move them from the straight line of duty.
Those who are under the control of the Spirit of God will not seek
their own pleasure or amusement. If Christ presides in the hearts of
the members of His church, they will answer to the call, “Come out
from among them, and be ye separate.” “Be not partakers of her sins.”
God would have us learn the solemn lesson that we are working
out our own destiny. The characters we form in this life decide whether
or not we are fitted to live through the eternal ages. No man can with
safety attempt to serve both God and Mammon. God is fully able to
keep us in the world, but not of the world. His love is not uncertain
and fluctuating. Ever He watches over His children with a care that
is measureless and everlasting. But He requires us to give Him our
undivided allegiance. “No man can serve two masters: for either he