TEXT: 1 Kings 11:1-13

Intro.
   A. Solomon was a wonderful, choice young man in the beginning of
      his reign as king over Israel.
      1. He was exceedingly wise in his humble request.  1 Kings
         3:5-13
         a. As always, God's blessings are conditional.  1 Kings
            3:14
      2. Solomon's wisdom was immediately demonstrated.  1 Kings
         3:16-28
         a. He used great wisdom in the building of the temple.  1
            Kings 5:13-16
      3. After Solomon's long prayer at the dedication of the temple,
         God revealed His acceptance.  1 Kings 9:3
         a. Again, it was conditional. 1 Kings 9:3-4
   B. When he was older, Solomon compromised and left his loyalty to
      the Lord.  1 Kings 11:4, 7-9
   C. Let consider some things regarding compromise.

I. COMPROMISE IS SIN.
   A. Without it, sin could have been avoided.  1 Kings 11:7-8
   B. It is double-mindedness.  James. 4:4, 8; Matt. 6:24
   C. Truth does not continue in such an environment.  Gal. 2:4-5
   D. It causes God's people to be indecisive and faithless. 1 Kings
      18:21; Jude 3; Eph. 5:11

II. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE COMPROMISES?
   A. The heart is turned away from God.  1 Kings 11:2,4,9
   B. The "militant spirit" is replaced with the "kind, gentle,      
      approach."
      1. Sin and error cannot be met by a soft approach.  Isa. 58:1; 
         2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 6:10-17
   C. True love for God becomes secondary.  Mark 12:28-29; Matt.
      5:7-9
      1. If one worships God by means of man's doctrine, his
         worship is hypocritical before God.
         a. If one truly loved and respected God as he claims, he
            would not worship God according to the doctrines of
            men.
   D. We must hate even the garment spotted by the flesh - Jude 22-23
      1. In other words, under no circumstances will we compromise
         with sin.

III. LET'S LOOK CLOSELY AT THE COMPROMISE IN SOLOMON'S LIFE.
   A. God had revealed certain things for the kings.  Deut. 17:14-20
   B. Solomon failed in all three of these.  1 Kings 4:26; 10:14
   C. His greatest error, and compromise, was in his many marriages.
      1. An Israelite was not to marry a foreigner.  Deut. 7:1-4
      2. Solomon had married many foreign women.  1 Kings 11:1-3.
         a. He had not found one good woman among a thousand. 
            Eccl. 7:28
            (1) The reason he has not found one good one was
                because he was around the wrong kind of women.
         b. These evil women were the cause of his downfall.  Neh.
            13:26.
      3. Under the New Covenant, marriage to an unbeliever is not
         sin.
         a. If it were sin, the sinner would be commanded to repent. 
            1 Cor. 7:12-15
         b. However, it is unwise, to say the least, for a Christian 
            to marry an unbeliever.
            (1) Additional trials and hardships exist when one is
                married to an unbeliever. 1 Pet. 3:1-4
            (2) It is hard enough to rear up faithful children when
                both parents are Christians, but exceedingly
                difficult when only one is.
         c. One should appreciate the value of a godly partner. 
            Prov. 19:14
   D. Solomon's compromise introduced idolatry into Israel.  1 Kings
      11:33
      1. After the kingdom was divided, and Jeroboam became king,
         the Northern kingdom was ripe for a false religion. 1 Kings
         12:25-33
         a. About one thousand years later, the descendants of
            these people were still worshiping in error.  John 4:19-
            24
         b. Similarly, once a false teaching gets started, generation
            after generation follows in it.
   E. Severe consequences stem from compromising one's convictions.
      1. The wrath of God is stirred up. 1 Kings 11:9
      2. The loss of God's blessings. 1 Kings 11:11
      3. It aids the enemy - 1 Kings 11:7-8; Neh. 6:1-4
      4. Many others can be dragged down by the compromise of
         one.  1 Kings 11:33; Gal. 5:9

Concl.
   A. Compromise may be fine in politics and in solving disputes
      between two enemies.
      1. However, when it comes to honoring and obeying God,
         compromise is deadly to our souls.
   B. We must earnestly contend for the faith and never have         
      fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.

Chart #1
Compromise Is Sin

Without it, Sin Could Have Been Avoided - 1 Kings 11:7-8

It is Double-Mindedness - James. 4:4,8; Matt. 6:24

Truth Does Not Continue In Such An Environment - Gal. 2:4-5

It Cause God's People To Be Indecisive and Faithless - 1 Kings 18:21;
Jude 3; Eph. 5:11

Chart #2
What Happens When One Compromises?

The heart is turned away from God - 1 Kings 11:2,4,9

The "militant spirit" is replaced with the "kind, gentle, approach." 
Isa. 58:1; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 6:10-17

True love for God becomes secondary - Mark 12:28-29; Matt. 15:7-9

We must hate even the garment spotted by the flesh - Jude 22-23

Chart #3
Severe Consequences Stem From Compromising One's Convictions

The wrath of God is stirred up - 1 Kings 11:9

The loss of God's blessings - 1 Kings 11:11

It aids the enemy - 1 Kings 11:7-8; Neh. 6:1-4

Many others can be dragged down by the compromise of one - 1 Kings
11:33; Gal. 5:9