S) "29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt"
1 Kings 4:29-30 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read 1 Kings 4
O) The first thing to remember, reading about Solomon, is that there was some measure of hyperbole with regard to his wisdom and wealth. For one thing, Solomon was not more wise than Jesus was, so in places where it says that he was more wise than anyone before or after him, we must recognize that as an idiom. The same was said about his wealth, and that may not be true even in our current world economy. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Solomon was, indeed, very wise, had great discernment, and surpassed all of his contemporaries. But, the two verses above remind us of a few very important things. First, that everything Solomon had was given to him by God. We don't really know what kind of man Solomon was, before being anointed as king and praying to God that first night for the wisdom to lead, but he certainly wasn't noted for being clever or ambitious. While his other siblings had machinations, we simply don't read of Solomon doing anything. This is certainly not to say that he was some kind of recluse, or that he lacked any understanding, but it wasn't notable. So when he ascended the throne, then displayed great wisdom and began a new era of prosperity in Israel, it was very notable because it wasn't there before (at least not near this degree). God gave Solomon wisdom. The second thing that these verses point out, is that they remind us of the purpose for that wisdom. That wisdom was given to Solomon to glorify God among the nations. God raised His people above their surrounding countries. God made His people flourish under an amazing king, for the purposes of showing Himself as holy and His people as His own. Why was Solomon compared to the people of the east, and to the Egyptians? In order that the LORD would be compared to their gods, and be revealed as the only living God. He was to be exalted as the only God to give such wisdom and wealth.
A) Comparison is a great way to bread discontent. I know that. If I am comparing myself to others, I will inevitably feel inadequate or superior, and neither of those attitudes glorify God. However, if I am comparing my Master to the masters that the world serves, then I can glorify God. If I am living in such a way that they compare themselves to me, then that is an opportunity for evangelism. That gets people asking me why I am the way I am, which opens the door to conversations about the grace of God in my life, and how He is the only reason I am where I am, how I am, who I am. I should pursue excellence and excellence. Wealth is okay to have (although I resist it because of Matthew 19:24), as is public recognition. What really matters, though, is the context of these things in my life, and how I choose to relate them back to Jesus Christ as my God.
P) Father, there is no doubt at all that Your grace is upon me. You have blessed me with some amount of wisdom and understanding, some amount of knowledge. You have blessed me with compassion and joy. You have blessed me with an amazing wife and marriage. You have blessed me with great kids who are healthy and happy, who love their parents and each other and You. I have a good job and a good relationship with my in-laws. These are all things that the world also desires. These are all things which You have given me. I didn't earn any of this. I didn't make any of this happen. You worked in me, through me, to bring about these blessings. I don't want to minimize them in an effort to stay humble. Instead, I want to let them fulfill their purpose, which is to glorify You as the only true God. To glorify You as good, holy, powerful, loving, and true. Let the world see who I am, what You have done in me, what You have given me. Let me talk about it freely, but always and only in the context of giving You all glory, Lord. The very last thing I would ever want, is to fall into the trap that Solomon did, having all the right things, all the right answers, and still missing the purpose. Be glorified in my life, in every conceivable way. Let the world see how good You are, how real You are, because of what You have done in me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
A) Comparison is a great way to bread discontent. I know that. If I am comparing myself to others, I will inevitably feel inadequate or superior, and neither of those attitudes glorify God. However, if I am comparing my Master to the masters that the world serves, then I can glorify God. If I am living in such a way that they compare themselves to me, then that is an opportunity for evangelism. That gets people asking me why I am the way I am, which opens the door to conversations about the grace of God in my life, and how He is the only reason I am where I am, how I am, who I am. I should pursue excellence and excellence. Wealth is okay to have (although I resist it because of Matthew 19:24), as is public recognition. What really matters, though, is the context of these things in my life, and how I choose to relate them back to Jesus Christ as my God.
P) Father, there is no doubt at all that Your grace is upon me. You have blessed me with some amount of wisdom and understanding, some amount of knowledge. You have blessed me with compassion and joy. You have blessed me with an amazing wife and marriage. You have blessed me with great kids who are healthy and happy, who love their parents and each other and You. I have a good job and a good relationship with my in-laws. These are all things that the world also desires. These are all things which You have given me. I didn't earn any of this. I didn't make any of this happen. You worked in me, through me, to bring about these blessings. I don't want to minimize them in an effort to stay humble. Instead, I want to let them fulfill their purpose, which is to glorify You as the only true God. To glorify You as good, holy, powerful, loving, and true. Let the world see who I am, what You have done in me, what You have given me. Let me talk about it freely, but always and only in the context of giving You all glory, Lord. The very last thing I would ever want, is to fall into the trap that Solomon did, having all the right things, all the right answers, and still missing the purpose. Be glorified in my life, in every conceivable way. Let the world see how good You are, how real You are, because of what You have done in me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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