I have thought a lot about “finishing well” in this life. In the ‘80’s, a study was made of leaders across the board who finished well, both in the present day and in the Scriptures. Only 35 percent finished well. The definition of finishing well was determined by: 1) growing in intimacy and oneness of heart with God. 2) fulfilling the purpose God planned for us in our generation.

The richest and wisest man on Earth did not finish well. King Solomon’s weakness for women was destructive enough to rob him of his inheritance, his purpose, and his sense of meaning in life.

The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel not to marry someone whose heart was given to other gods. Yet Solomon married many foreign women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites, including Pharaoh’s daughter. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And they did turn his heart away from the Lord (see I Kings 11: 1-11).

In his old age, Solomon began to worship Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech. Solomon built shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and offering child sacrifices to their gods. In this way, he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and refused to follow Him completely, as his father, David, had done. The consequences of Solomon’s disobedience were severe. The kingdom would be torn away from him and given to someone else. 

Solomon abandoned the humility he expressed at the beginning of his reign. His wisdom and the ability to apply that wisdom, and the wealth he gained, would become meaningless to him. 

Paul addressed this issue to the Corinthian church, “Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). 

Taking heed means being careful, vigilant, and on the lookout for any attachment or addiction that would enslave our hearts, compromise our union with God, and rob us of our purpose and calling. This is how we finish well.