1 Kings_3

Scripture1 Kings 3:10-1210 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 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, 12 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.ObservationSolomon was now seated on the throne of his father King David and had taken the role of King. His father had passed away and he inherited a great number of people. He had listened to his father's instructions. God was pleased with Solomon and told him he could ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon felt the weight of the responsibility and asked the Lord for wisdom.UnderstandingGratitude and humility are always the correct response.First, Solomon responded to God with gratitude.1 Kings 3:6-9   6 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. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.Second, the humility.7 “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. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 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?”Solomon may have been around 20 years old when he took the throne. He was young and maybe it was obvious that he told God he was a child but it's so much more common to see an arrogant 20 something that knows everything instead of being filled with humility. I definitely was! There was clearly a difference with him. Solomon’s brothers tried to just take the throne. They never asked their father or waited to be anointed by the prophet, they thought they should be king and took it.God was so pleased with Solomon’s request as we read in 1 Kings 3:10-12 that he not only answered his request but gave him more than he could have imagined.13 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. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”ApplicationGratitude and humility are always the correct response.I'm so grateful that he made a way for us to enter into his kingdom and bless us with all that we have no matter how big or small.Recognize the responsibility of the task that God gives to us.Matthew 22:36-40   36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’Father show me how to love you the way you deserve to be loved. Holy Spirit empower me to love my neighbor, especially the ones that make it so difficult!Oh the weight of the responsibility to LOVE God, our neighbors, and ourselves! This is just one example on how to apply this to our lives but the truth is that there is the weight of the responsibility to parent or to be a spouse according to God’s standards and commands. How about an employer or an employee? The list could go on.Pride distorts our true condition, we are mere humans in desperate need of God!  Instead let's put on humility. We don’t and can’t possibly know everything. Let’s remain teachable remembering that God is making us into the image of his Son.Seeking the kingdom of heaven and all His righteousness pleases the heart of God...that should always be our goal!