"Ask for whatever you want me to give you." -God (2 Chronicles 1:7b)
FABULOUS! Okay, God's not telling this to everyone, just Solomon. *sigh* When Solomon became king, God told Solomon that He'll give him anything he wanted. If God asked you that, what would you ask for? I know some of us like to cheat and say, "I ask that You keep asking me," just like how we cheat on our birthday by wishing for a million more wishes when we blow out the candle.*
*I didn't do that, by the way.
But of all things, Solomon replied, "Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people." (2 Chronicles 1:10a)
And as a result, God said, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)
I think Solomon wrote Proverbs 3:13-18 based on this experience. Wisdom is more valuable than riches.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
I can think of a bunch of people with riches but no wisdom. Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan...big stars with big money, living a glamorous lifestyle, getting everything they want. But with everything they have, are they happy? When you hear the name Britney Spears what comes to mind? Issues...
Exactly.
There's nothing wrong with being rich; but without wisdom, we'll become like a very unhappy, very unfabulous Sharpay Evans.
Instead, let's be like King Solomon and CHOOSE WISDOM!
QUESTION:
Since I got verses 26-35 messed up on the schedule, let's give them some spotlight and discuss some of the "do not" verses. The one that stood out to me was verse 27:
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."
To me, this verse meant that I need to do good to others that "deserve it." Who are the people that "deserve" our good deeds? What are some ways we can do good to them?
Also, feel free to put which verse (v. 26-35) stood out to you.
2 comments:
ahhh yes, there is more in context with that verse, it says right after that: when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, go, and come back, and tomarrow I will give it, when you have it with you.
I think this means in other words, not to make excuses. which is really easy to do.
and when it says do good to those who deserve it, I think it means those who need it. Sound right?
I agree, like don't hold back and make excuses so you don't have to help someone in need.
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