Our readings in this series are from the book, Understanding the Times Here is a brief excerpt from page 24:
“Paul was an effective witness for Christ because he understood the times and knew what was required of him in proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. He calls all who read his words to imitate him, because he was only imitating Jesus.
“Solomon also understood the times in which he lived, but only after they nearly destroyed him and his faith. Solomon, who started so well in his rule over Israel, fell away from the Lord, became totally self-absorbed, took up the pursuit of pleasures and things, and ended up disillusioned, disappointed, and nearly despairing. His plight was the consequence of choosing to live ‘under the sun’ rather than ‘under the heavens.’
“Solomon’s experience mirrors in many ways the secular age in which we live. We can learn from him to understand why the times we live in leave so many people frustrated and despairing, and we can take hope from the fact that, by the grace of God, Solomon escaped the snares of worldliness and self and found his way back to faith.”
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