by: Valerie Grande
“And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things…” 1 Chronicles 29:19
“And Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered…” 1 Chronicles 29:23
If you are like me and grew up going to church, you know the story of Solomon: the wisest man to ever live. You know that God blessed him with more than just wisdom and understanding. The man had everything! 1 Chronicles 29:25 says, “And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.” Solomon had it all: wealth, power, fame, fortune and women. Everything he wanted, God gave to him. Talk about being blessed, right?
Now let’s take a step back and think for a moment. How did Solomon – of all the sons of David – end up being the one chosen? Why did Solomon get the blessing? Was it because of David’s dying wish that God chose to bestow His blessing on Solomon and not one of his other sons? Did the fact that his father was a godly man who sought to please the Lord give him a “fast pass” to living such a blessed life?
We know that God did bless Solomon because of his father’s godly life and dedication to serving God. We see this in 1 Chronicles 28:7 where it says, “Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever…” While this played an influential part in Solomon’s blessed and prosperous life, I believe that the extent of God’s blessing rested on Solomon and his personal desire to serve God. God blessed Solomon because that’s what he promised David, but even more so because he sought God’s direction in his life and wanted it for himself. Solomon made his father’s life and his decisions his own. Solomon could not and probably would not had ever have received God’s full blessing and power until he decided to take God as his own. Solomon had to make it personal.
We read the verses at the beginning that told us David’s prayer to God for his son and God’s fulfillment of His promise. But, we skipped over a key event that allowed God to keep His promise…and then some.
1 Kings 3:5 says, “In Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” Verse 9 says, “Give therefore thy servant and understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
We find in verse 9 that Solomon asked for wisdom; he asked for understanding; he asked for God’s hand of guidance upon his life. In his heart of hearts, this was Solomon’s greatest desire. Why do I think this? Because looking at verse 5, we see the Lord came to Solomon in a dream. Now I don’t know about you, but when I’m dreaming, I really don’t have control over what is going on inside my head. I have no control over what I am going to say or do. What about people who talk or walk in their sleep? Those of us who are awake enjoy asking them questions and coaxing them into telling things that they never would normally answer truthfully…why? Simply because people who talk or walk in their sleep have no control over themselves.
Solomon had no idea that God was going to speak to him in a dream. He did not have time to sit and think about his answer to the question that was raised that night. This in itself tells me that this was something that Solomon had already pondered and prayed about. He was in the spiritual place that he needed to be at the right time. Without knowing it, he had been preparing for this one crucial moment that would determine the success or failure of his life and kingdom.
Teen girl, I know you have parents, pastors, pastor’s wives, youth pastors, and youth pastors wives who are praying for you. They are praying that God will use you in a mighty way; that He will guide and direct you in all that you do. While these prayers matter, the success or failure of your life as a Christian will be determined by whether you want it or not. Don’t be swept into this concept of, “I grew up in a Christian home with godly parents…everything is going to be just fine.” You may have the most spiritual, and wise parents in the world who are praying for you; but if you are not actively seeking a personal relationship with God and striving to do His will, He can only do so much. You have to seek Him; you have to ask Him to guide your life; you have to want a blessed life. You HAVE to make it personal. You have to want it in your heart of hearts. Solomon did, and look how God blessed him in 1 Kings 4:29, 34, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”
God has countless blessings in store for you. More than you or I could ever imagine. I challenge you today to take the prayers and the faith of the spiritual leaders in your life and make it your own. Just think of all God could and would do through the life of a godly teenage girl who surrenders to God and sincerely desires to serve Him with all her heart. The possibilities are endless!
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
Valerie Grande
Church secretary
Stockton, MO