Quote:
Originally Posted by NeitherFirstnorLast
Amen brother, I hear what you are saying....
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The life expectancy at the time of Solomon was probably around 25. The death rate for babies and mothers giving birth was probably many times higher than it is today. By every single measure the standard of living is probably significantly higher today than at Solomon's time. Likewise, taking the route he took led to the nation of Israel being divided and then defeated by the Babylonians and carried off as captives. It is difficult for me to believe anyone could argue that these things don't matter.
You give a story about someone from Africa realizing how much he needs God. Imagine 3,000 years ago such a one went to a modern, technologically advanced Israel with the wealth of the entire middle east, I am pretty sure that he would have come cringing, just as the verse said, saying how much he needed God.
But then you give a great verse reference about how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, how it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is truly illustrated in the story of Solomon. How difficult was it for such a rich king, a man that was "rich in wisdom" to count it all loss and heed God's word. Had he done it all of Israel would have entered the kingdom of heaven, but it was just too hard to lay aside everything else and focus whole heartedly on God word and his commandment.