What do you want the most from God?

“The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because that was the most renowned high place. Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand holocausts. In Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, ‘Ask something of me and I will give it to you.’ Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David, because he behaved faithfully toward you, with justice and an upright heart; and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today, seating a son of his on his throne. O Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father, David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours? The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request.” (I Kings 3:4-10) 

King Solomon is a young kid who has just been handed the throne of his father, King David. After his coronation, Solomon seeks to worship the Lord. He makes his way to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord. Gibeon was the place the Jews went to offer their sacrifices to God because the temple had not been completed at this time.

It is while Solomon is there to offer his sacrifices and to worship the Lord that God speaks to him. If we want to hear from God, then we must place ourselves in a position to listen. It is in worshipping the Lord that we are in the most conducive place to hear from God. Solomon places himself in such a position by spending time in worship. He begins his reign as king with reverence of the Creator and with a recognition that he still answers to someone higher than himself. As a result, God speaks. He asks Solomon what he wanted from the Lord. He tells Solomon that he could ask for whatever he wanted, and it would be granted.

What would you ask for from God? If God spoke to you and told you that you could have whatever you want, then what would you ask of God? It is as if the genie in a bottle pops out and tells you that you have only one wish. What would that single request be in your life?

This young and inexperienced king seems to be a little intimidated by his newly acquired position. In I Kings 3:7 he admits he is not sure what he is doing. God delivers him a way out of his uncertainty and tells him he could have whatever he wanted. He could ask for the wisest advisors to surround him and give him advice, a great and powerful army, a subordinate kingdom, an expanded kingdom, abundant riches, an endless supply of beautiful women, or a long life. He asked the Lord for none of these. His desire was to be able to please the Lord and treat people fairly and according to how God wants him to treat others. His desire was for the Lord and other people. It was not for him.

His request pleased the Lord because Solomon does not seek selfish gain. His request of ‘an understanding heart to judge your people and distinguish right from wrong’ (vs. 9) pleased the Lord. In other words, Solomon just wanted to do what was right toward others and to honor God. It should also be our desire. The young king had begun his reign by worshipping the Lord. When God asked him what he wanted then he responded with recognizing what the Lord had already done for him. He told God that he was given the throne of his father, King David. He recognized what he had already received from God, and he was grateful. He was humble. He was a servant and not a dictator. He only wanted a heart that would allow him to know what was right and to rule according to that knowledge.

In return for his heart toward the Lord, God not only granted him the request for which he asked (wisdom), but he gave even more than what was asked of him. He bestowed upon the king a wisdom that far surpassed anyone else on earth. He also lavished upon him things that Solomon could have requested but did not. God gave him riches, glory, respect, and admiration.

The desires of your heart reflect the condition of your heart. It is in prayer that we take those desires of our heart to the Lord. It is through worship that we approach the throne of grace and mercy. What would you ask if the Lord said you could have whatever you asked of him? What does that request reveal about your heart and your soul?