1 Kings 3

Wow! This chapter started out with God coming to Solomon like a genie in a bottle: "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.'" (vs 5) I had to wonder what I would say if God ever approached me like that. If you believed you were talking to someone who could give you anything, what would you really want?

By this point, Solomon must have been aware of the gravity of his position. He was king over a people "too numerous to count" and was the one responsible for making sure justice prevailed in the land. That must have been a daunting task! I have always thought that it must have been a little like becoming President of the United States—it’s easy to go out on the campaign trail and diss the guy who’s currently doing the job, but when you take over and, all of a sudden, you’re the one getting those classified security briefings, things might look a whole lot different.

So, Solomon does a very wise thing and asks for wisdom. On some level, he must have known that all the money and power in the world would be meaningless to him if he was unable to do his job well. If he wasn’t wise enough to lead the people, he would be miserable, no matter what.But I found God’s response very interesting: "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 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. 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.'" (vs 10-13)

God wants us to have it all. However, some things are more important than others. For instance, if we have power, but not character, that might destroy us. If we have money, but not charity, we might become very greedy. If we have freedom, but not responsibility, we can harm ourselves and others.

Some things should take first place. If we possess the things of greater importance (wisdom, in Solomon’s case), then we will also be in a position to handle everything else (wealth and honor, in Solomon’s case). If we don’t have the things of greater importance, then we won’t be in a position to handle those other things, and God is not going to give us anything that will be detrimental to our spiritual health.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." It’s important that we get first things first, just as Solomon did. To seek God’s righteousness, His wisdom, and His character means that He will then be able to give us even more than we ever asked for. You see, God is in the giving business. He doesn’t want to have to pick and choose what He will send our way. He wants to give it all to us. Are you in a position to receive?