King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.

The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If you recall, Solomon’s first and only request was for wisdom. Not for riches or power.

Wisdom was what built his kingdom into riches and power never seen before.

1 Kings 9:4-5 is the pact he made with God that assured the continuation of his riches, power and rule.

Too many of us have focused on prayers for riches or power and devalued the wisdom that made them possible.

What a world this might be today if we all craved wisdom and insight over money and fame and acknowledged it as the gift it is.

Wisdom is the currency of God that keeps us humble yet makes us wealthy beyond measure.

Wisdom starts with a healthy fear of a holy God.

But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Even after all the magnificent work creating a temple for the lord, Solomon regarded it insufficient and nothing more than symbolic.

It could only serve to satisfy the human desire for a tangible place to worship an intangible God as if he may do his best work in a temple made by human hands versus within the human heart.

Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Church is not a building.
Church is in the heart of every man.

We were made to worship and to do so with or without four walls around us.

However, God indulges our desire for a place where an invisible God may become visible within the best splendor we can muster, even if it’s only symbolic.

Elaborate temples of gold and riches may be out of fashion these days, but the local church is often the very place many of us experience the majesty and beauty of Jesus for the very first time.

If you build it, they will come.

Advancements in AI, quantum physics and computing, and all the revolutionary features arriving now and in the near future will catapult life as we know it into a realm we’ve only heretofore known or suspected as attributes of God.

The promises of customized cancer cures, solutions to homelessness and hunger worldwide, and countless other social ills are beyond numerous.

That God created us in his image supposes that perfection was his desire for us until such time we rebelled and sin entered through events of the garden.

AI, quantum sciences, and remarkable achievements may propel humanity toward solutions and perfections originally intended for us at creation, but can never account for the element of independent human will which always produces imperfections and thus, without surrender and salvation, the chasm between God and unreconciled man.

Corruption in the heart of man precluded perfection once, and will do so again.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore, greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

He was wiser than anyone else and his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. People came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world.

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Wisdom reaches much further than intellect. Wisdom embodies principles, values and morals with all their nuances within its proclamations, all programmed in by the mind and heart of a loving God.

Consequences of rule by a wise and principled leader is a peaceful and satisfied kingdom which Solomon had created and enjoyed.

We pray for our own leaders to manifest and exercise the wisdom of Solomon and to prize wisdom far above wealth, honor and fame.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.—1Timothy 2:1-2

I’m at the front of the line?

Not so long ago I was playing softball, riding bikes and buying far more wedding gifts than sympathy cards.

Then both parents died within a couple years of one another suddenly leaving me in grasp of the eldest branch of my family tree, unprepared and at more of my own doctor visits than walks in the park.

I started being more careful climbing ladders and taking fewer risks and chances with the advancing march of mortality.

It all came more clearly into view and way sooner than expected.
And I wasn’t alone.

Out for coffee conversation with peers and friends became more talk of empty nests, punctuated by pill counts and nagging pains like nomads that shift and move with the weather or for no reason at all.

When did I move to the front of the line where the old people used to stand?

You can’t even take a number here anymore.

I suppose they just call when the luck runs out and yours is up. 

Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Given a choice, Solomon chose wisdom over wealth, justice or long life.

The gift of godly discernment trumps all others as it recognizes the ways of God as righteous. Wealth and longevity are both finite but to know and put in place the will of God promises infinite outcomes.

So many today seek money, fame and beauty over gifts that are timeless and of much greater benefit to others.

Wisdom and discernment are guarantor gifts.

They aren’t dependent on circumstances. They transcend all conditions and situations, never subject to our human nature or judgement of right or wrong.

As Solomon soon discovered, from choosing wisdom, all other gifts are bestowed.

Pray to put in place things that will really matter for years to come.

A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab.
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭20‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬
Disputes recorded in the Old Testament weren’t all resolved with civility.
It was a rough time to be alive.
Religion and worship was so central to human existence it demanded payment of the ultimate price of thousands at a time, each tribe with fervent belief they were doing the bidding of the god they served.
To this day, some religious factions haven’t changed much.
Jesus Christ and his teachings were a game changer and many Christians were martyred for their faith and following while trying to persuade others of a better way.
Living for Christ not only marked a great personal transition but the transition of society to civility.
Belief became a judgment by God alone, reserved for his own timing either through resurrection or damnation, chosen by the decision of each person.
Acknowledgement that the battle is no longer against flesh and blood but in the spiritual realm against darkness and evil principalities permanently changed the playing field.
At stake are the same consequences but the building of bridges and relationships are now of primary importance in helping others to a life of faith and true righteousness.

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Remembering the love and loyalty he once enjoyed with his best friend Jonathan, now deceased, he sought out Jonathan’s remaining son:

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?””

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Like being found the long lost heir to some overseas royal fortune, Mephi asks King David how this good fortune could have possibly come upon a nobody like him.

Unaware how much his father’s friendship long ago meant to King David, this bestowment would surely be like winning a lottery he never even knew existed.

The trajectory of his life and his family’s future would be forever changed because of his bloodline and a good king who was also once a nobody in need of a loyal friend.

Takeaway: We never really know what truly remarkable blessings are just around the corner, headed your way directed by the very hand of God by way of his servants.

Accept the gift.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.

In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.

And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ”

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A fitting passage on the eve of this 47th US presidential inauguration.