The Path To Change

Our society and the ‘American Dream’ are built around a strong work ethic. The harder we work, the greater the chance of success. If left unchecked, the positive work ethic can evolve into something more along the line of workaholism. My devotion is work. It’s more than a job or career. I enjoy what I do for a living - it’s a passion. I can spend every waking hour pursuing my ambitions and financial goals. I’ve sacrificed much along the way; family relationships, friendships, and my spiritual well-being are some of my chief concerns.

In my previous blog, I talked about King David, and now I will continue the story with his heir to the throne. Following the death of King David, Solomon became the next king. He faced several revolts early in his reign, but he consolidated his power and took firm control over his kingdom. King Solomon prayed about learning the wisdom needed to rule wisely. His reign as king was marked by wisdom, honor, wealth, and longevity.

He became a workaholic, and I can relate to this struggle. He built a temple, palace and fortified his kingdom against intruders, and all of this on a grand scale. King Solomon heavily taxed and worked his people hard. He sacrificed important relationships with his people, his family, and his God. He taxed his subjects and obligated his subjects to do burdensome work to accomplish his goals. It culminated when he betrayed his God and disobeyed his marital vows by marrying many women.

It’s human nature to strive, achieve our life’s ambitions and become the best at what we do. It’s easy to forget about the ultimate source of strength and success. I am thankful the good Lord is infinitely patient with His children - patient with me! I can use more grace in my life. Whenever anything replaces the source of our light, we sacrifice everything that matters in this world. I hate prison, and how it corrupts the soul, but it makes a man pay attention to the important things in life. I will interweave more time to build a closer family, have a deeper faith, work smarter, and walk a different path.