If you had the opportunity to build a house for God what would it be like?  Would you give Him the best?  Would you ensure the work was done by the most skilled craftsmen?  Solomon sure did.  Read 1 Kings 6 if you’re interested to learn more (http://www.esvstudybible.org/search?q=1+Kgs+6).

But what I want to call your attention to is what the narrator does in chapters 6 and 7 of 1 Kings.  The last verse of chapter 6 says that it took Solomon’s vast crew 7 years to build the temple—God’s house.  But verse 1 of chapter 7 says, “It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace.” 

Two “houses” are in view here, and an emphatic contrast is being made between them. Solomon spent much more time building his own house or palace complex than he did building God’s house, another indication of his divided heart. The likely emphasis of 7:1 is in fact as follows: “But his own house Solomon spent thirteen years building; and he completed the whole of his house.” The temple is not really “complete” until all the work on its interior is complete and it is being worshiped in; and this is not the case until 7:51.  (ESV Online Study Bible Notes)

Are our hearts divided like Solomon’s?  And how would we know?  After all, did Solomon really know his heart was divided?  Whether or not Solomon knew his heart was divided is not the issue.  The issue is that it was as expressed through his alliance with a foreign power and his spending more time on his own palace than on God’s dwelling place.  Remember Jesus’ words, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).  Jesus didn’t say where your heart is your treasure will be.  Rather what has your attention will steer your heart. Good intentions as Solomon undoubtedly had are not enough.  It is the direction you are heading that is key.  And we head in the direction of that which has our attention.

What has your attention?  That’s what has your heart!