Title: Linked Together/Topic: Responsibility to Others

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 29; Psalm 95; 2 Thessalonians 1

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:2-4
2 "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, 3 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, 4 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.'

Observation: David makes an interesting point in his “farewell” speech to his son, Solomon. David exhorts him to follow and obey God so that he will have a blessed life AND so that the Lord's promises to himself (David) will be fulfilled. Solomon's father is about to die and yet he takes the time to make sure that Solomon understands that how he lives his life, even after his father is dead, will affect whether or not the promises of the Lord come to pass. David lets Solomon know that the fulfillment of God's promises is important to him.

Application: What we do and how we live affects others around us. We are linked together. We may not like the idea that our bad choices can negatively affect others (it can be a lot of guilt to carry) but it is the truth. The Bible affirms this truth: “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26). We have a responsibility, then, to live a holy life not just for ourselves, but for those around us as well. If we live according to God's law, we bless others as well as ourselves, and if we do not, we damage more than just ourselves.

Prayer: Father, help us all to live well by following your paths. May we be a part of helping every one of our brothers and sisters see all of God's promises to them fulfilled by not hindering your work or bringing shame to the Body of Christ. Let us especially honor those in our families by living well and bringing them joy instead of heartache.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.