2nd Chronicles Chapter 1. Money or People!
Solomon is coming on as king and he's starting off by going before the Lord with his leadership team while making a thousand burnt offerings to God.
When Solomon went before the Lord, he eventually heard God's voice saying to him to ask for whatever he wishes. Solomon doesn't ask selfishly for what will benefit him but wishes for that which would benefit all the Israelites. He asked for wisdom and knowledge in order to rule them. He could have asked for money and honor and possessions but he doesn't. As a result God blessed him with knowledge and wisdom but also gave him these other things as well.
People want to hear from God but don't want to take the time to sit before the Lord and listen. Life is too busy. Everybody is busy. I still believe we are busy with whatever we choose to be busy with. Luke 5:16 says Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray. Our schedule inflicts fear and anxiety within us and tells us we don't have time. While God is saying let's sit and chat.
Maybe God is asking us the same question he asked Solomon! What do you want from me and I'll give it to you? Are we sitting before the Lord so we can hear Him or do we miss opportunities for the Lord because “we are too busy?”
God blessed Solomon with financial benefits much later because he put people before money. He accumulated horses and chariots, gold and silver.
If we keep people before money we may also reap financial benefits later that we may never have thought of. Keeping money first will result in missed opportunities for impacting lives.
A few Bible verses came to my mind today when thinking about Solomon making the right choice in asking for wisdom.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
James 1:5-6
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
As we begin a new book of the Bible today, I will share a couple of ApologetiX parodies that go along with 2 Chronicles.
Come Out and Pray is a parody of Come Out and Play by The Offspring.
https://youtu.be/oqEb5zXqqx0
Good King is a parody of Good Thing by Fine Young Cannibals.
https://youtu.be/4NM7yyA2Uc4
Thank you for the reflection Blair, and wow Jim great reminder with Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve two gods. We have seen so many men and women try to serve their flesh hoping God wouldn’t notice, but we can’t serve two gods! I hope to be more like Solomon… and spend more time listening to God!