Reading this morning was pretty good for me. The LifeJournal had a passage from the Psalms and 2 Thessalonians, but the one that really struck me was 1 Kings 3:5-15. It's that story I've heard since I was child. You know, the one about Solomon being asked by God, "What do you want from me? I'll give you anything you ask!"
Now, at this point, I'm thinking, "Anything? Okay, well, I really want a million dollars and that new computer I saw and a new car that doesn't squeak every time I turn and a new pair of shoes and an iPod with more memory and 36 hours in a day so that sometimes I don't feel so rushed for time and...and...and..." Let me just be honest, I like stuff! If God told me He'd give me anything - well, I think I'd have the hardest time just narrowing it down to one thing.
Solomon, on the other hand, seems like he had a cheat sheet or something. He hit the nail on the head and asked for exactly the right thing. He said, "Lord, I'm young and I want wisdom to lead Your people." What?! Who does that? I mean, he's like the same age as I am right now when God asks him this. I seriously thought when I first heard this story that Solomon would answer, "Yeah, um, I was really hoping for a new chariot with those 42 inch spinners and gold spokes. What about that hip new harp player? Can he be on my permanent staff?"
My favorite part about the answer that Solomon gives, though, is this. In verse 7 he says, "...although I am but a little child." I never really noticed this before, but Solomon just speaks volumes to me about himself by saying this. First, he is showing me how humble he is. I mean, when God asks me what I want I'm thinking of all this stuff, but Solomon just lays it out there that he is young and doesn't know how to do this job that has been passed to him. He humbles himself in front of the Lord and that is just impressive to me. What an example!
I think the thing that I realized just this morning about Solomon was how wise he already was when God offered him everything. Solomon was wise enough to recognize his youth, his inexperience, and ask for help. He didn't ask for riches or power because he already knew that none of those material things could help him lead Israel. He was wise beyond his years before he even asked for wisdom and that is so impressive to me.
I guess the question I'm asking myself now is, "Am I asking for stuff or wisdom?"
