1 Kings 3:6-14: a reflection

6Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. 7Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in. 8Your servant is among your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered or counted for multitude. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 10This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you. 13I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days. 14If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

When God invites young Solomon to ask for whatever he wants, Solomon, humbly aware of his own inadequacy, asks not for riches or long life or victory over enemies, but for an understanding heart to govern God's people well; and this request pleases God. I am just a little child, Solomon says; I don't know how to go out or come in. Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil. This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing, rather than for himself, riches, or the life of his enemies. Solomon asked for what would help him serve well, not for selfish gain; and God was pleased, and gave him wisdom, and more besides. This shows that asking God for the right things, to serve well rather than for selfish gain, pleases him. Asking God for the right things pleases him. Solomon asked for wisdom to serve, not for selfish gain. God is pleased when we ask for what truly matters. Ask God for what helps you serve well, not merely for yourself.

Notice both Solomon's humility and what he asked for. He begins in humility: I am just a little child; I don't know how to go out or come in. Faced with the great responsibility of governing God's people, he does not presume on his own ability, but confesses his inadequacy. And out of this humility, he asks God not for the things people usually crave, long life, riches, victory over enemies, but for an understanding heart to govern God's people well, to discern between good and evil. He asks for what would help him serve well, not for selfish gain. And God is pleased, precisely because Solomon asked for this rather than for himself; and God gives him wisdom, and adds riches and honor besides. This searches what we ask of God. When we come to God with our requests, what do we ask for? Often we ask for the things people crave: comfort, success, prosperity, our own advantage. But Solomon asked for wisdom to serve God's people well, for what would help him fulfill his responsibility, not for selfish gain; and this pleased God. It pleases God when we ask, not merely for ourselves and our own comfort, but for what will help us serve him and others well, for wisdom, for grace to fulfill our responsibilities, for what truly matters. We do well to ask God for the right things, for what helps us serve well, rather than only for selfish gain. Ask God for wisdom to serve well, not merely for selfish gain. It pleases God when we ask for what truly matters. Do not ask only for your own comfort and advantage. Seek from God what will help you serve him and others well.

That is worth taking to heart, for it pleases God when we ask him for the right things, for what helps us serve well rather than for selfish gain, as Solomon asked for wisdom and pleased God. We often ask God for comfort, success, and our own advantage; but Solomon, in humility, asked not for riches or long life but for an understanding heart to serve God's people, and this pleased God, who gave him wisdom and more. Ask for what matters. When you come to God with your requests, do not ask only for your own comfort and advantage; ask for wisdom and grace to serve him and others well, which pleases him. Ask God for the right things, for wisdom and grace to serve him and others well rather than merely for selfish gain, as when God invited young Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon, humbly aware of his inadequacy and saying he was but a little child who did not know how to go out or come in, asked not for riches, long life, or victory over enemies but for an understanding heart to govern God's people and discern between good and evil, and this request pleased the Lord, who gave him wisdom and added riches and honor besides; for Solomon began in humility, not presuming on his own ability but confessing his inadequacy before the great responsibility, and out of this humility asked for what would help him serve well rather than for the things people usually crave, and God was pleased precisely because he asked for this rather than for himself, which searches what we ask of God, since when we come with our requests we often ask for comfort, success, prosperity, and our own advantage, but it pleases God when we ask not merely for ourselves but for what will help us serve him and others well, for wisdom, grace to fulfill our responsibilities, and what truly matters, so that we do well to ask God for the right things.

Lord, when you invite young Solomon to ask for whatever he wants, Solomon, humbly aware of his own inadequacy, asks not for riches or long life or victory over enemies, but for an understanding heart to govern your people well; and this request pleases you. I am just a little child, Solomon says; I don't know how to go out or come in. Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil. This request pleased you, that Solomon had asked this thing, rather than for himself, riches, or the life of his enemies. Solomon asked for what would help him serve well, not for selfish gain; and you were pleased, and gave him wisdom, and more besides. Show me both Solomon's humility and what he asked for. He begins in humility: I am just a little child. Faced with the great responsibility of governing your people, he does not presume on his own ability, but confesses his inadequacy. And out of this humility, he asks you not for the things people usually crave, but for an understanding heart to govern your people well. He asks for what would help him serve well, not for selfish gain. And you are pleased, and give him wisdom, and add riches and honor besides. This searches what I ask of you. When I come to you with my requests, what do I ask for? Often I ask for comfort, success, prosperity, my own advantage. But Solomon asked for wisdom to serve your people well; and this pleased you. It pleases you when I ask, not merely for myself, but for what will help me serve you and others well. Take that to my heart, for it pleases you when I ask for the right things, for what helps me serve well rather than for selfish gain. When I come to you with my requests, keep me from asking only for my own comfort and advantage; help me ask for wisdom and grace to serve you and others well, Lord, seeking from you what truly matters, as Solomon asked for an understanding heart and pleased you.