1 Kings 3: The Man Who Has Everything

I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

Solomon, the precocious prince and son of David, grows up with every conceivable advantage. Even God lavishes special gifts on him. In an incredible dream sequence, young Solomon gets the opportunity every child secretly longs for. God offers him his heart's desire- long life, riches, anything he wishes. When Solomon chooses wisdom, God rewards him with bonus gifts of wealth, honor and peace. His very request, the wisdom to be a good king, shows that Solomon possesses much wisdom already. Unfortunately, its accompanying humility does not stay with Solomon throughout his life.

Chapters 2 and 3 show conflicting personality traits in Solomon. In the power struggles of chapter 2, he proves far more ruthless than his father. This tendency stirs up resentment among the northern tribes of Israel and eventually leads to civil war. But chapter 3 shows Solomon as faithful, wise and even humble. Tragically, he yields more and more to his darker side as his reign progresses.

The famous scene recorded here shows "Solomonic wisdom" at its best. As is still true in the Middle East today, the nation's king serves as the "supreme court" of justice. Solomon's bold proposal to two prostitutes forces out the truth and brings a quick end to an ugly quarrel.

Even in the happy days depicted in this chapter, telltale danger signs begin to appear. Solomon marries a foreign wife and signs dangerous political agreements. His public spectacle of 1,000 burnt offerings makes a startling contrast to his father David's humble confessions before God. The new kings has a penchant for excess- whether in worship, architecture, or women- that will prove his undoing.

Life Question: And God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." How would you respond to this?

No doubt, I would be terrified. I truly can't think of one earthly possession that wouldn't probably come back to bite me in the proverbial butt. Certainly I want happiness for my family and the opportunity to watch my kids live out their faith to a ripe old age. Who wouldn't want these things? Asking for a tangible gift, though- like winning the lottery- would take an enormous amount of courage. Because with a gift like that, comes a responsibility to utilize it in a way that is pleasing to God. How often do we see the wealthy of today's society hoard their money instead of using it to advance Christ's message? Solomon's request for wisdom showed a degree of maturity that not only was pleasing to God, but inspiring to all of Israel.