Galatians – Chapter Six XI

by Ed Urzi

“Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest” (Galatians 6:7 GW).

King Solomon’s decision to ask God for “…an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil…” (1 Kings 3:9 ASV) led to positive consequences for himself and many others. But Solomon later made some other choices that led to far different consequences…

“But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites — from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods’

For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David… Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David” (1 Kings 11:1-6).

Here’s what happened as a result…

“So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant'” (1 Kings 11:9-11).

Solomon’s experience illustrates the truth of Galatians 6:7 in a positive and negative sense. Solomon made a good initial choice and reaped the benefit. Unfortunately, he later made several bad decisions that led to negative consequences for himself and many others. Of course, Solomon is hardly an isolated example in this regard, and his experience reminds us that our choices (and their associated consequences) have an impact upon others for better or worse.

So Galatians 6:7 tells us that we cannot escape the consequences that result from our choices, positive or negative- and Solomon’s example tells us that it is far wiser to make good, God-honoring choices so we reap the right kind of consequences for ourselves and others.