ESOCS Devotional 8 April 2022
TEXT: 1 KINGS 5:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil; thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.” 1 Kings 5:11 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
A friend is someone who is not just familiar with you but shares intimate and lovely relationship. Wages is the payment due to a workman or professional for service rendered.
In our text, we see that Hiram King of Tyre was a friend of David and when Solomon took over as king of Israel, Hiram extended the hand of friendship to Solomon. He rejoiced and blessed the Lord that God gave his friend David a wise son to reign over Israel (vs. 1-7). A good friend will always rejoice at the prosperity of his friend and support his effort. You can’t be said to be a friend when you feel bad at the prosperity of your friend. Hiram was happy with the goodly desires of Solomon to build a temple for God to fulfill the aspiration of his father David (v 5).
Friendship thrives when people pursue their goals with godly virtues. One significant virtue of true friendship is trustworthiness and respect to one another. Hiram did not fail in fulfilling his promise to send Cedar trees as Solomon desired. Solomon on his part, did not fail to pay for the worth of the labour and cost of the Cedar (vs. 8-11).
As Christians, we should try to learn and maintain good friendship habits. We should pay for services rendered to us by those who are intimate and friendly to us. They need the fruit of their labour to survive. Do not pull them down in their earnings because he is a brother in the Lord or a friend. Do not under pay brethren that work for you on the ground of friendship. Pay everyone the due price of his labour. This is how to show that the love of Christ dwells in us.
- Do you have a desire to contribute to the prosperity of your friend? Do you pay friends who work for you their proper wages?
- Lord, put in me the heart to see and contribute to the growth of the business of my friends, in Jesus Name. Amen.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: John 2:13-end; Exodus 4:1-17; Ephesians 6:1-19
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ESOCS Devotional 8 April 2022
