Wisdom is insufficient

Solomon is known for his wisdom, which God granted him in 1 Kings 3:1-15.  He wrote much of the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. - 1 Kings 3:11-12

The life of Solomon, is in many ways a cautionary tale. You could chalk up his failings to power or boredom or pride, each being a common stumbling block, but  Solomon the wisest man who ever lived so what happened?

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. - 1 Kings 11:1-6

We see in the verses above that despite being wise, and old (it wasn't hormones), and knowing the results of his decisions (see Proverbs 1 and 2) that Solomon knowingly allowed his foreign wives to lead him astray. Solomon allowed the lusts of his heart to rule, all his wisdom ultimately failed to keep his heart devoted to God.

What can we glean from Solomon? 

1) Wisdom is insufficient.  When we put ourselves in situations that continually tempt and entice our flesh we will eventually cave.  Even when we know what the right thing to do is, and know where it leads, and know how to avoid it we still need to purpose in our hearts to not sin and flee temptation.

2) All sin is a heart and God issue at its root.  Solomon allowed himself, knowingly, to be led away from God.  His heart was turned towards other gods because he did not fully devote himself to God.  This led to willful rebellion on Solomon's part.

3) Age doesn't make us wiser or less succeptible to falling.  If we aren't growing in sanctification and communion with God our entire lives then we will lose our flavor and usefulness and even backslide.

4) Sexual intimacy is an incredibly powerful bond.  Even if it's with 1,000 different women. Sex, like every fleshly desire must be kept in proper context and balance.  Marriage is that context and mutual agreement between the husband and wife is the balance.  Lust without boundaries always leads to disaster.