Solomon Syndrome

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. (1 Kings 11:3-10)

One great thing about the Bible is not only does it tell us of the victories of great men and women of faith, it also tells us of their struggles and their failures. Solomon was one of the wisest men to live on the planet, but he fell away from the things of God because of his unholy desires. Having seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines changed him. Solomon’s heart, once perfectly aligned with the Lord, started to waver. The sacred commitment he made to follow the Lord's commandments got overshadowed by his affections for foreign women.

Solomon’s connection with these women caused him to give place to false gods. Ashtoreth of the Zidonians, Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites, Chemosh, the god of Moab, and Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon, were all given a place in Solomon’s kingdom and his heart.

The story of Solomon is tragic. The wisest and richest man, perhaps ever, fell away from God because of his lust for women. Don’t fall for the Solomon Syndrome!

Be discerning of your relationships. Guard your heart against things and people that would try to influence you away from God’s will.