August 11, 2015: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

¹⁰ Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David.¹¹ The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ¹² So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.

³ Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. ⁴ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.”⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. ¹³ I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. ¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”

Reflection
If you could ask God for anything in the world what would you ask for? Money to pay off debts? A yacht? A million dollars? A  new television? An attractive mate? Losing weight instantly? Wisdom and understanding?

Wisdom and understanding definitely feels out of place in this list. It’s because our culture places more value on money, possessions, and physical things rather than the building up of character. When God tells Solomon that he can have whatever his heart desires he asks for “an understanding mind…able to discern between good and evil.” I don’t know about you but that’s not on my list of Top Ten Things I Want in Life. I wonder why that is?

Questions
Morning: What things are on your Top Ten Things I Want in Life list? Is Wisdom and Understanding on there? Why or why not?

Afternoon: Why do you think we are so drawn to material possessions rather than character building attributes?

Evening Prayer:
Oh Light of the World, Infinite God, Father of Eternity, giver of Wisdom and Knowledge, and ineffable dispenser of every Spiritual Grace; who knowest all things before they are made, who makest the darkness and the light; put forth Thy hand and touch my mouth, and make it as a sharp sword to utter eloquently Thy Words.

Make my tongue, Oh Lord, as a chosen arrow, to declare faithfully Thy Wonders. Put Thy Spirit, Oh Lord, in my heart, that I may perceive; in my soul, that I may retain; and in my conscience, that I may meditate.

Do thou lovingly, holily, mercifully, clemently and gently inspire me with Thy Grace. Do Thou teach, guide and strengthen the comings in and goings out of my senses and my thoughts.

And let Thy discipline instruct me even to the end, and the Counsel of the Most High help me through Thy Infinite Wisdom and Mercy, Amen. – St. Anthony