The account of Solomon asking for wisdom to govern well, and receiving from the Lord both wisdom and wealth, longevity, and fame, is familiar. It’s no doubt been mis-applied by the prosperity gospel crowd to suggest a means of manipulating God to achieve our own goals.
Rather, the lesson learned from Solomon’s example should be to align our hearts with God’s desire and trust God’s provision. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
But our hearts can’t be set on the reward, they must be set on God. Often the rewards of God are a heart refined by fire, a life poured out for others, a body martyred for extolling the name of Christ. Although God does pour out material blessings on some, as He did upon Solomon, His desire is for our hearts, and too often our hearts are longing after the blessing more than the One who blesses.
What if my greatest desire was simply to draw closer to the Lord? I catch glimpses of that heart at times, though it is often silenced by comparison, covetous thoughts, and the tyranny of first world problems.
“I need a new _______.”
“If we just had ___________.”
“Did you see their ____________? Maybe, someday….”
It’s so much easier to think along those lines rather than:
“Thank you, Lord, for providing everything we truly need and so many of the things we simply desire.”
“Thank you, Lord, for a job.”
“Thank you, Lord, for access to medical care.”
“Thank you, Lord, for godly leaders encouraging and exhorting us.”
“Thank you, Lord, for my family.”
“Thank you, Lord, for my salvation.”
“Thank you, Lord, for the freedom to worship You.”
“Thank you, Lord, for the ability to speak, to sing, to walk, to see, to hear, to touch.”
“Thank you, Lord, for Your Word. Thank you for showing me something new in it every single time I open it. Thank you for telling the story of Your great love for us and Your plan to redeem our lives through Jesus’ sacrifice on every single page.”
Rather, the lesson learned from Solomon’s example should be to align our hearts with God’s desire and trust God’s provision. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
But our hearts can’t be set on the reward, they must be set on God. Often the rewards of God are a heart refined by fire, a life poured out for others, a body martyred for extolling the name of Christ. Although God does pour out material blessings on some, as He did upon Solomon, His desire is for our hearts, and too often our hearts are longing after the blessing more than the One who blesses.
What if my greatest desire was simply to draw closer to the Lord? I catch glimpses of that heart at times, though it is often silenced by comparison, covetous thoughts, and the tyranny of first world problems.
“I need a new _______.”
“If we just had ___________.”
“Did you see their ____________? Maybe, someday….”
It’s so much easier to think along those lines rather than:
“Thank you, Lord, for providing everything we truly need and so many of the things we simply desire.”
“Thank you, Lord, for a job.”
“Thank you, Lord, for access to medical care.”
“Thank you, Lord, for godly leaders encouraging and exhorting us.”
“Thank you, Lord, for my family.”
“Thank you, Lord, for my salvation.”
“Thank you, Lord, for the freedom to worship You.”
“Thank you, Lord, for the ability to speak, to sing, to walk, to see, to hear, to touch.”
“Thank you, Lord, for Your Word. Thank you for showing me something new in it every single time I open it. Thank you for telling the story of Your great love for us and Your plan to redeem our lives through Jesus’ sacrifice on every single page.”
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