Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 83; 1 Chronicles 29:23-25; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 1 Kings 2: 13 through 3:4; 2 Chronicles 1: 2-6; 1 Kings 3: 5-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13
What if
you
were more successful than any person before you?
How would you handle the test of success?
In today’s scripture, a story begins to unfold that shows us how one man handled success. It will take a few days of reading to find out if he passed his test, but there’s plenty to learn from his first date with success!
And the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him. –1 Chronicles 29:25
Solomon was very young when he became king. Scholars can’t seem to agree on his age; I saw everything from eight to twenty years old—let’s just say he was a “very young” king of Israel. At this young age Solomon had three important things going for him:
- Solomon had a great example to follow, his father king David
- Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David… –1 Kings 3:3
- He saw the importance of teaching his leaders to consult the Lord. — 2 Chronicles 1:2-3
Everything seemed was going well for Solomon and then things went from good to great!
…God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” –1 Kings 3:5
Okay folks, Solomon was twenty; think about the average twenty-year old of today, what would he ask for?
Probably not what Solomon asked for—
- An understanding heart
- To know the difference between right and wrong
The Lord was pleased and granted him his request. God also gave Solomon what he did not ask for—riches and fame!
From what we’ve read, it seems that Solomon saw his success as a responsibility to lead well, not a license to rule over others.
I’d say that so far Solomon is handing success pretty well.
I am reminded of another person who was shown his future through a dream—Joseph. **See January 14th post, “When Our Dreams are Shattered”
Joseph didn’t do as well as Solomon; as soon as he woke up from his dream he immediately told his father and brothers that they would be bowing down to him. I guess it’s safe to say that Joseph wouldn’t have asked for wisdom if he’d been in Solomon’s position. I guess that’s why Joseph had 13 years of “pride removal” in a jail cell.
If your future was as bright as Solomon’s or Joseph’s, would God be able to use you immediately like Solomon, because you knew where you wisdom came from, or would you have gone to prison with Joseph for pride removal?
Lord, I believe you have a special success plan for each of us. Help us to seek You and the tools that Solomon desired–an understanding heart and the wisdom to know what’s right and wrong, so that we will be ready to handle the success You have for us.
In Jesus Name! Amen and Amen.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 3: 16-28; 1 Kings 5: 1-18; 2 chronicles 2: 1-18; 1 Kings 6: 1-13; 2 Chronicles 3: 1-14; 1 Kings 6: 14-38
