SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!” [2 Chronicles 1:11-12]
At this point in his life, Solomon is more concerned with wisdom than with wealth.
God honours his heart and blesses him with wisdom and more – though unfortunately this proves to be his downfall.
God’s desire is to bless us; He created us to enjoy perfect joy, happiness, success, wealth, health.
The problem is not God’s willingness to bless, it is our ability to handle that blessing.
It takes wisdom to see that money, sex and power do not make a person happy.
And often these very things cloud our judgment, making us unwise and leading to the downfall for many.
That God gives Solomon both wisdom and success is a test; he has everything he needs to make the right decisions and to succeed as God’s leader.
But unfortunately, being great went to his head and clouded his judgment.

Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. [Matthew 19:27-30]
For Peter and the disciples, to follow Jesus was a sacrifice; they left family, careers, wealth as well as reputation to follow Jesus, hoping that He was the one to establish God’s kingdom on earth.
Jesus makes it clear that their commitment to Him will “pay off” in the end.
This sounds crass and self-serving, and indeed for some it is.
But keep in mind the cost of this promised blessing; it means a huge responsibility and commitment to put God first, to deny ourselves for the sake of others, and to put our own agendas and ‘kingdoms’ aside for Him.
And the pay off will be more than material wealth, it will be eternal joy and blessing; it will be the amazing experience of seeing people free, blessed, living in harmony and wholeness and joy in God’s neverending paradise!

But we are still in the same danger as Solomon was; like Solomon, the church and Christians have often failed the test of material blessing in this life.
When God entrusts wealth and blessing to His followers, He does so for a purpose – to equip them with the necessary resources to bless others and promote His kingdom.
But when the church or individual Christians invest that wealth into selfish purposes, into our own success and comfort, while neglecting our calling, we fall into the same trap as Solomon.

What am I living for? How am I handling the wealth and blessing of God in my life?
Am I using the resources God has given me for my kingdom, or for His kingdom?
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6:33]

PRAYER:

Lord, I want to be wise more than wealthy. Help me to see how You have blessed me with wisdom, and to be a faithful leader in and for Your kingdom!