The Kingdom of More

accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

This legislation was given by God through Moses as Israel was preparing to enter the land of Canaan. It was a momentous time for the fledgling nation. They had been in the wilderness for 40 years. They had watched the previous generation perish there. They helped two-and-a-half tribes take possession of their land east of the Jordan (2:243:20). But now the time was upon them, and under Joshua’s leadership they would finally set foot in the land that God promised to Abraham hundreds of years before. They must have been experiencing a flood of emotions.

Although it would be a while before Israel would have a king, God laid out for them what His expectations were. Contrary to the kingdoms around them, the king was not to build for himself a kingdom of more (Brueggemann) — more horses, more wealth or more wives.

More horses have to do with the build-up of their military. At this time, Israel had no army; every man over 20 was available to fight if needed, but they were not professional soldiers. God didn’t want the king to oversee a large military build-up — He wanted the king to trust in Him (Deuteronomy 20:1ff; Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 31:1)!

The silver and gold have to do with accumulating riches — not for functional purposes like building infrastructure or helping people, but for display and status (see Hezekiah’s exhibition in Isaiah 39). Moreover, this kind of wealth usually came from militaristic conquest, tribute and/or extreme taxation

(i.e., Solomon – 2 Kings 12:1-4). This was not what God wanted the earthly leader of His people to be about.

“Many wives” have to do with treaties and alliances with other nations to be sure, but that’s not the stated concern of the text. It is that “his heart will be led astray.” Of course, this is exactly what happened with Solomon (1 Kings 11:1ff). He “held fast to them in love” (v. 2), and they “turned his heart after other gods” (v. 4).

God’s desire for the king was remarkably counterculture and reflected the truth that He wanted Israel to be a special people (Exodus 19:5-6) who modeled the redemption and relationship that He desired with all the world and would one day bring about in Jesus.

It’s probably not a bad idea when we read this to think about our little kingdoms. We all have self-rule of our lives, and Jesus instructs us in the model prayer to abdicate that rule and allow God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done. Otherwise, we seem to inevitably end up building little kingdoms of more — more stuff, more status, more success. The reign of God in our lives means we jettison that approach and live to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2).

That is the true kingdom of more.

Bruce has written a book on the model prayer called “Praying in the Reign.” It is available through 21st Century Christian.

You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: www.a-taste-ofgrace-with-bruce-green. com.

Bible Verse Of The Week

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. — Romans 15:30

Church Directory

ANGLICAN

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church 3015 Opelika Road, Opelika

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS

God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672

BAPTIST

Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St., Opelika 334-745-7528

Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538

AFB - Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., Valley 334-710-2117

Greater Peace Missionary

Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave., Opelika 334-749-9487

Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184

High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 334-524-8750

Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108

Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608

Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Church of Christ at Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika

10th Street Church Of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181

Church Of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy., Opelika 334-742-9721

Southside Church Of Christ 405 Carver Ave., Opelika 334-745-6015

EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave., Opelika 334-745-2054

METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800

Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148

Connect Church 2015 West Point Pkwy., Opelika 334-707-3949

St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319

PENTECOSTAL Gateway Pentecostal Sanctuary 1221 Commerce Drive, Auburn 334-745-6926

PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Opelika Outreach S.D.A. Church P.O. Box 386, Opelika 334-749-3151

First Baptist in LaGrange Hosts

Date Night with Marriage Experts

CONTRIBUTED BY FIRST BAPTIST ON THE SQUARE

LAGRANGE, GA — First Baptist Church on the Square is hosting Date Night with Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the church's New Life Building located at 117 Church St. in LaGrange.

Opelika, Alabama 36801

334-745-5706

Tickets are $30 a couple, and childcare is provided.

Date Night will be an engaging and fun event for couples of any age or stage — featuring real-life and practical content, dinner, games, music, a Q & A and a better love assessment.

The Parrotts are No. 1 New York Times bestselling authors, and they have been featured in USA Today and the

New York Times. Their television appearances include CNN, The View, The O’Reilly Factor, The Today Show and Oprah. Their books include “ Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, ” “ Real Relationships, ”

“ L.O.V.E., ” “ The Parent You Want To Be, ” “ Trading Places ,” “ The Complete Guide To Marriage Mentoring ” and “ Love Talk. ”

For more information and to buy your tickets, see www.fbclagrange. org/event/date-night/.

WALTER ALBRITTON

RELIGION —

The word “matters” is used often with reference to what is truly significant. When I ponder what really matters, three words come to mind: faith, family and friends.

The longer I live, the less significance I find in things. Though Jesus impacted the world like no other person who ever lived, he owned nothing except the clothes on his back. He possessed none of the “stuff” that none of us can do without, like a cellphone for example. Pondering that frees me from the temptation to spend a thousand dollars for a “new” cellphone.

ALVIN HUSTON

Alvin Huston, 87, of Opelika, passed away Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Visitation was held Feb. 6, 2023, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with a graveside service following at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Alvin was born Jan. 4, 1936, in Weogufka, Alabama, to Robert and Sula Huston. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Alberta Huston.

Alvin is survived by his children: Sharon (Terry) Lee, Al (Renee) Huston; grandchildren: Trey (Dana) Lee, Garrett Huston, Keely Huston; greatgrandchildren: Alyssa Lee, Alyson Lee, Robert Tyson, Jackson William Huston; special nieces and nephews: Pat (John) Blythe, Sherri (Kelley) Griswold, Wayne Talton; sisters: Virginia Smelcer, Vera Barnett.

Alvin retired from Michelin North America in 1993. He was the 58th employee hired by U.S. Rubber in 1964.

The family wishes to thank his caregivers for the last month, Teresa Dubose and Tammy Sistrunk. They loved and cared for him like their own. The family