Welcome To the Brotherhood of Kings

443 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:10-16, “So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. 11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. 13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. (2 Sam 5:10-16) David is on top of the world. God is with him as the anointed King of Israel. Word gets out to surrounding countries and Hiram King of Tyre sends emissaries to David with an offer to build a palace for him that would be suitable for an earthly monarch. Put yourself in David's shoes here. This warrior-shepherd boy has a wealthy King come to him and offer to build him a palace. One can almost see the jubilant celebration going on in David's head! I have arrived! Surely God is with me! Look at this beautiful house built for me, and it didn't cost me a cent! Without a doubt, such a gift should cause one to break forth in thanks and praise to God! But to tie it in with God's special favor is a mistake. Believers aren't the only one's who catch such breaks in this world. Jesus said in Mt 5:45b, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Unfortunately, David interpreted this gift of Hiram as a gesture of “Welcome to the club of the kings of this world!” This membership comes with a price of temptation to follow the ways of the world and that's exactly what David did, for in the very next verse we read of him taking on concubines and wives, after all, this is the way that the kings of the world strengthened their hand. This trap is set for you and I every single day, especially in this land of unheard of prosperity. Thank God for your material blessings, but don't allow them to lure you into the ways of the world, rather keep seeking and searching God's Word for advice on how to live. The guidelines are the same for the rich and poor, and it is in keeping (treasuring) His Word that one finds true prosperity. Father thank You for all the blessings You have poured out on us, but help us to not be lured into the ways of the world.