When You Put God First . . .
Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David . . .
The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices . . . and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon, the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart . . . Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. . . . So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
The LORD was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 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 . . . I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for -- both wealth and honor -- so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience with me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." I Kings 3:3-14
The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices . . . and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon, the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart . . . Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. . . . So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
The LORD was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 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 . . . I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for -- both wealth and honor -- so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience with me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." I Kings 3:3-14
Solomon started his kingship in the right direction: he showed his love for God by keeping the instructions given him by his father David. David had counseled him to walk faithfully with God so that the generational blessings promised by God to David would never cease in the family.
Solomon had seen David offer extravagant sacrifices to God and we see him as king following those footsteps. Solomon did not hold back from God. He put God first.
This is seen in the actions he took: He offered an extravagant worship of a thousand burnt offerings in one sitting on the altar. He did not hold back in giving to God. It was a spiritual statement to God that he was prepared to give the very best to God. His resources were to be put at the disposal of God. There is something rather deep and inexplicable about how the heart of God is touched when His children offer Him their very best. God was unquestionably touched by Solomon's sacrifice.
Almost as if to test how genuine Solomon's desire to put God first was, God appeared to him in a dream and asked him to petition Him for anything he wanted. Solomon responded by asking God for wisdom so that he could successfully govern the people of God. Solomon humbled himself and admitted that he felt very inadequate in the huge task of ruling God's people. God was so pleased with Solomon that He promised to give him both wisdom and wealth that would be unparalleled by any other king in his lifetime. Solomon put God's Kingdom Agenda first and God blessed him tremendously.
So, what do you ask for predominantly in your prayers? Money to pay your bills? Good health? A husband or wife? A good job? The defeat of your enemies? Do you ask God to use your time, talents and treasures to further His Kingdom? Do you ask God to use you sacrificially?
God has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. There is nothing inherently wrong in asking God to meet our needs. But the words of Jesus must govern our lives: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you as well." (Matthew 6:33). Powerful food for thought.
Solomon had seen David offer extravagant sacrifices to God and we see him as king following those footsteps. Solomon did not hold back from God. He put God first.
This is seen in the actions he took: He offered an extravagant worship of a thousand burnt offerings in one sitting on the altar. He did not hold back in giving to God. It was a spiritual statement to God that he was prepared to give the very best to God. His resources were to be put at the disposal of God. There is something rather deep and inexplicable about how the heart of God is touched when His children offer Him their very best. God was unquestionably touched by Solomon's sacrifice.
Almost as if to test how genuine Solomon's desire to put God first was, God appeared to him in a dream and asked him to petition Him for anything he wanted. Solomon responded by asking God for wisdom so that he could successfully govern the people of God. Solomon humbled himself and admitted that he felt very inadequate in the huge task of ruling God's people. God was so pleased with Solomon that He promised to give him both wisdom and wealth that would be unparalleled by any other king in his lifetime. Solomon put God's Kingdom Agenda first and God blessed him tremendously.
So, what do you ask for predominantly in your prayers? Money to pay your bills? Good health? A husband or wife? A good job? The defeat of your enemies? Do you ask God to use your time, talents and treasures to further His Kingdom? Do you ask God to use you sacrificially?
God has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. There is nothing inherently wrong in asking God to meet our needs. But the words of Jesus must govern our lives: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you as well." (Matthew 6:33). Powerful food for thought.
Prayer: Father, please help me to put you first in my Time, Talents and Treasures. Amen.
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