“Ask For Whatever

You Want Me To Give You”

Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem. The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

“Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

1 Kings 3:1-9

We have all heard the “three wish stories” of things that could be granted. Solomon could have asked for anything: riches, honor, fame, or power. But he asked for an understanding heart, a humble heart to listen and learn from.

Are we that wise? If God spoke to us directly and asked what He could do for us, what would we ask for? Would we ask for health, wealth, youth, power, or prestige? Or would we ask for wisdom, holiness, and love? Would we be wise or foolish?

What would you ask for?

God’s wisdom is given to those who humbly ask Him for it.

Our Daily Bread – December 9, 2011