“I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 NLT
“But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.”
Psalms 73:2-14 NLT
If I didn’t know better, I’d think Asaph read Ecclesiastes 2. Why are we attracted to things and personalities that offer us nothing but emptiness and envy? Why do we deceive ourselves into thinking more is better or that things satisfy. The Bible says this about God’s blessings, penned by the same Solomon who is falling apart because he has lost the joy he once had when he walked in abandoned obedience to Jehovah.
“The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
Proverbs 10:22 NLT
God never intended for the blessing to become a fatal attraction. Solomon kept building more stuff, but with each new acquisition, he became emptier. He was looking for fulfillment in things, instead of the God who gave him power to gain wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18
He had forgotten about God, and turned his heart towards fatal attractions. He went opposite of everything God warned Him about.
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.
Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.
The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command.”
1 Kings 11:1-3, 5-6, 9-10 NLT
Solomon had a fatal attraction for heathen women. Women who had no love for his God. They turned his heart away from the Lord. Try though he did to soothe his disobedience with things, he had no peace. Are you trying to soothe yourself with things? The hand of God will rest heavily on disobedience. The only cure is repentance, which Solomon did not do. The attraction was greater than his conviction to turn away from the pull of sin. Remember these words; sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay. Solomon’s fatal attraction cost him more than the kingdom, it cost him his fellowship with God.
Asaph in Psalm 73 encountered a fatal attraction of his own. He allowed his eyes to deceive him into thinking that the godless was doing better in life than he was as a follower of Jehovah. Perception can be fatal without the right perspective. What we see with our natural eyes isn’t the same as what we see with our born again spiritual eyes. Remember the lesson on “Lord open our eyes?” Elisha’s servant saw defeat, Elisha saw opportunity. Be careful what you say when you’re viewing the world and their supposed “good life” you will own every word you say. That’s why Jesus warned us against voicing our negative thoughts. Matthew 6:31
Asaph began comparing his circumstances with the unsaved. He saw them as living large, while he was struggling, barely getting by. It caused him to become envious. Are you, or have you been there? The grass always looks greener on the other side. What are you willing to do to acquire what you think you’re missing? Do you find yourself grumbling against God? Forgetting what really matters? Have you pulled away from Him to go after bigger and better? What’s your fatal attraction? Who’s he or she? Solomon got what he thought he wanted, but wasn’t satisfied with what he got. Fatal attractions are anything or anyone that pulls you away from your moorings in God. Nothing or no one, should be given that much power over your life. Thank goodness Asaph, unlike Solomon, came to his senses. The thing I admired about Asaph was that he kept his thoughts to himself and never badmouthed God with other people. Most of us would share our discouragement, spreading the doubt and unbelief like wildfire. Causing fear and distrust in others. They say misery loves company. But not Asaph.
“If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to Your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into Your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You. Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.”
Psalms 73:15-17, 21-28 NLT
How refreshing! Like a cool breeze on a hot day are the words of Asaph. He admitted his sins, and refocused on the goodness of the Lord. The momentary distraction did not pull him away from God’s sanctuary, it rather drew him to it. Most people walk away from God, by allowing the enemy to blind them to the reality of what they’re really seeing. It never ends well for those who allow their eyes to be their guide. We have more going for us with a cup of water living for Jesus, than a river without Him. We just need to remove our eyes from the lure, and refocus. Lord open our eyes! This is what Asaph saw with renewed vision.
“Then I went into Your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, You put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When You arise, O Lord, You will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.”
Psalms 73:17-20 NLT
While Solomon built more stuff, Asaph went into the sanctuary of the Lord. Where will your attractions lead you? Where will you end up? Someone wrote that Solomon was the wisest fool who ever lived. Fatal attractions was his undoing. Asaph was a wise man. He may have stumbled for a moment, like some of us do, but he knew that the answers he sought, could only be found in one place. The sanctuary of the Lord.
A mind that thinks with the Word of God, will not be easily influenced by what’s happening around them.🙏
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
April 8, 2021