“Wasn’t this exactly what led King Solomon of Israel into sin?” I demanded. “There was no king from any nation who could compare to him, and God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by his foreign wives.”” –Nehemiah 13:26

It amazes me how much influence a single individual can have on others. In Solomon’s case, he was blessed with wisdom and a wonderful kingdom, but when he went against God’s command to not marry foreign women who worshiped other gods (1 Kings 11:2), Solomon lost everything. The influence of these wives– and the gods they worshiped– brought a terrible consequence.

Even though Solomon was clearly responsible for his own actions of marrying women God had forbidden, I can’t help but think of the influence his wives had. What “gods” do we as girlfriends, wives, boyfriends, or husbands bring into our relationships that influence our significant others and turn them from God? Do we encourage God’s commands or do we encourage the thoughts of this world?

We will never be perfect, but we can choose what we set our eyes on. Whatever our god is– whether it be sex, money, possessions, pride, or reputation– not only destroys our own lives, but the lives of those we influence. Relationships can’t survive with false gods getting in the way. Perhaps it’s time to get rid of our idols and get our sights back on God.