Pastor Franklin spoke about King Solomon and how he had guards trained for war, yet his real enemy was what he was becoming. He was insecure, and though he had great wealth, he lacked peace because he no longer walked closely with God.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” Solomon had wealth, popularity, power, and influence, but he strayed from the Lord because he married foreign women who turned his heart away from God. Instead of trusting the Lord to protect Israel, he formed alliances with other nations, looking to them as his source of strength.

God gave him multiple warnings, but Solomon didn’t listen. Women were his weakness—along with money and possessions—and these became idols in his life. The women he associated with drew him away from the Lord until his heart was hardened and he no longer relied on God.

Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Solomon’s pride and disobedience blinded him to his own downfall. He built altars for foreign gods, even building a house for Pharaoh’s daughter. The very alliances he thought would secure him instead led to his ruin and stirred up enemies against him.

His story warns us that who we associate with will either keep us close to God or lead us far from Him. May we choose relationships that strengthen our walk with the Lord and guard our hearts from compromise.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding me today that “Bad company corrupts good character.” Show me the people in my life whose company will corrupt my character. I confess I often get confused between loving people in Jesus and hoping for their salvation, and putting my trust, my confidence, and my belonging in people who will corrupt my character. Open my eyes to how friends and family may be leading me to worship idols – place things in greater importance than Jesus. And help me to be honest about those who often bring temptation to overt evil – drugs, sexual immorality, hate, greed, and rebellion. Help me establish and maintain healthy boundaries. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Solomon recorded his father David’s teaching in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” However, at the peak of Solomon’s career, money could not buy him peace because he had not guarded his heart. Pastor Franklin admonished us to thank God for every blessing, but not to trade our peace.