God or you?
Ask yourself this question: do your actions seek to glorify yourself or do they seek to glorify God?
God appeared to Solomon in 1 Kings 3 in a dream, it went like this:
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.
“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies — I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for — riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”
Taken from the NLT version of the Bible
From this passage, we can see that Solomon humbled himself and understood what was important. He was more concerned about what would help him to govern the people of God rather than what could benefit himself. He understood that without wisdom and guidance from the Lord, he would not be able to lead such a great nation.
Solomon understood that he required an understanding heart and the ability to be just with his decisions to lead Israel and Judah. When the Lord heard Solomon’s request, he was pleased with his response. The reason why the Lord was so delighted with Solomon’s response was because he decided to put God’s will above his own self gain. If God was to ask you that question, what would be your honest response? …
In our world today, a lot of people would have actually asked for: wealth, fame, long life. Again, I ask the question: God or you?
What is more important to you?
Luke 12:31 NLT | Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
This is exactly what happened when Solomon asked for wisdom, he seeked the Kingdom of God above everything else and then God gave him everything else that he needed in addition. God gave Solomon what he did not even ask for: riches and fame. Seeking the Kingdom of God first means that you are unlikely to use what has God given you in addition inappropriately.
Who are you living for: God or you?
