What Should We Ask For?
February 1, 2009
1 Kings 3:5-12
I love game shows, especially the trivia shows: Jeopardy, Don't Forget the Lyrics, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. I enjoy playing along because-quite honestly-I'm pretty good at them. And there is something fun about watching someone squirm because they aren't sure of an answer when you are absolutely sure of it. And Regis Philbun is the master of looking at the contestant, who has just given the correct answer, and saying (with just a hint of doubt in his voice), "Is that your final answer?" And suddenly the contestant who was absolutely sure of their answer faced with his apparent doubt and the possibility of losing thousands of dollars becomes unsure and hesitant.
Well, I don't know about you but if God showed up at my bedside one night and asked me what I wanted from him, I'd feel much like one of those contestants standing at the brink of winning-or losing-a million dollars. What would I ask God for? I wouldn't want to mess up. I'd want to be sure of my final answer. After all, everything would be riding on the correct answer. Do you ask for health? Do you ask for a miracle for your friend? Do you ask for wealth? Power? What would be your final answer?
In our scripture today, Solomon is faced with that very dilemma. He is about to be made king of Israel and Judah despite the doubts and the objections of many. He wasn't the one expected to rule. As I've mentioned over the last few weeks, God has this tendency to call the most unlikely people and Solomon was highly unlikely. He wasn't the oldest son. And the fact that he was the child of the rather scandalous marriage of David and Bathsheba did not work in his favor. Yet, despite all the reasons he should not be King, the throne is within his grasp. Then God shows up and says,
"Ask what I should give you?" And Solomon gives God his answer.
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. 1 Kings 3:5-12
He could have asked for so many things-wealth, health, the defeat of his enemies, security . . . you name it. They must have all passed through his head and each time he must have asked himself, "Is that you final answer?" Until finally, he settled on the one thing he felt he truly needed: "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil."
And God says, "That's the correct answer!!!! You are newest winner on 'Who Wants to be a King?'"
In the past few weeks, we've been talking about God's call on our lives and our response to that call and here, in the young Solomon, we have an example of the kind of response that pleases God. So let's look at Solomon's response to see what we can learn about our own response to God's gracious calling of us.
First, Solomon's response reveals a humble heart. He knows that he is God's servant but he recognizes something else that is almost as important. Solomon also knows that he is the servant of God's people.
For those of us called by Jesus Christ, this is an important reminder-we have been called by God and we have been called for a purpose. We have been called to be servants-to serve God and to serve God's people.
One of the most beautiful stories in the Bible comes from the Gospel of John where he tells of Jesus' final night with his disciples. Jesus takes a towel and he takes a basin and he goes around the room washing the dirty, smelly feet of his disciples-all of his disciples-even the one who would use those very feet to walk to the authorities and betray him. He goes around the room washing each foot and then drying it. Then he says, "For I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." John 13:15-17
And in Matthew, there is the awkward moment when James and John's mother comes to Jesus and asks that they have a special place in the Kingdom. And Jesus tells them rather pointedly that those who wish to be great in the Kingdom must first be a servant. After all, even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. (Matthew 20:20-28)
We are called to serve. The church exists not to house Christians until Christ returns but to be Christ's body at work in the world serving those Christ loves. And the truth is that we fail to be the church, when we fail to be in service-in ministry-to the world outside the walls of this building!
Then Solomon asks for wisdom-for a discerning heart-not for his own sake but for the sake of those God loves.
Discernment. . . . wisdom . . . . those who choose to follow the call of Jesus find themselves continually falling at the feet of God praying for those two things. While the Bible is full of things in which we are given clear guidance-don't steal PERIOD, don't have an affair, do feed the hungry and such-there are many, many other decisions we are called to make on a daily basis that the Bible doesn't specifically address. Do I take that new job? Do I buy that house? Do I tell my friend what I know? Do I major in education or engineering?
Our lives are full of decision after decision that Scripture does not clearly address. Decisions which require wisdom and discernment. And for those of us, who like Solomon, wish to please God, there are decisions for which we need God's guidance. And so we call out to God and ask for God's direction.
But notice something important here-Solomon doesn't ask for wisdom and a discerning heart for his own sake. He asks for the sake of God's people. Solomon's focus is not on himself. His focus is on God and on others.
Perhaps wisdom is knowing that it isn't all about us! It isn't about our needs, our wants, and our desires. It isn't about what is best for us, what makes us feel good, or what makes us prosper. Perhaps when we find ourselves stuck-unable to figure out the next step God wants us to take-perhaps then we need to shift the focus from what we want and need to what is best for others.
I know there are preachers on television now that will disagree with what I am about to say, but God does not necessarily want us to be rich. God does not necessarily show his love by showering us with material blessings. For one thing those are not the things that make for happy and abundant lives!
Don't believe me? Look at Brittany Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Elvis Presley and Health Ledger!
Furthermore, some of the folks God has showed a special fondness for had very little. And in every place that I can think of in the Bible where people were blessed with material things, they didn't ask for it. Their focus was elsewhere and the blessings they were given were not for their own benefit but for the benefit of others. Like Abraham, they were blessed to be a blessing to others.
In the Kingdom of God, expectations are turned upside down! The world screams "He who dies with the most toys wins." God says, "No! He who gives away the most toys wins!" The world screams, "God helps those who help themselves." God says, "No! I help those who help others." The world screams, "Look out for number 1!" And God says, "No! Look out for everyone else and I'll look out for you!"
(Actually I did think of one exception and that is that famous prayer of Jabez. But It is important to realize that Jabez's prayer was an exception and not the rule.)
"What should I give you Solomon?"
"Give me wisdom and a discerning heart for the sake of your people."
And listen again to God's response:
"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, 12I 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."
And then God goes on to say:
I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.
Or as we sang just a moment ago, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."
Wisdom and discernment begin when we shift our focus from ourselves to God and from what's good for us to what's good for God's people.
It is not uncommon for Christians to ask each other to pray about important decisions. Should I marry this person? Should I take this job? What should I major in? Where should I live?
But all too often despite asking for God's guidance, the questions we ask are focused on our selves. Will I like this job? Will it pay enough? Can I make the house payment? Will others approve of my choice?
Instead I believe the lesson we learn from Solomon is that we have the priorities backwards. Instead of asking "Can I make this house payment with my salary?", we should ask "Can I make this house payment while still being able to give to others as God calls me to give?" or "Can I make this payment without having to deprive my family of my time and attention."
Instead of asking, "What career will allow me to make the most money and retire the earliest?" we should ask, "God, how can I use the gifts and graces you have given me to serve you and others?"
God cares deeply about us and about our needs. True wisdom recognizes that God will take care of us; therefore, our focus can be on others. And in the funny upside down Kingdom of God, it is only when we take the focus off of ourselves that we are open to receiving the blessings that God has in store for us.
We know Solomon by his reputation as the wisest of Kings. He had great wisdom because in the middle of the night when asked by God what he most wanted, he shifted his focus from himself to God and to others. He wasn't wise because of his great education or his keen mind. He was wise because he relied heavily on presence and guidance of God. As a result, his kingdom flourished. His needs and wants were more than met. He was blessed to be a blessing.
Unfortunately, that wasn't Solomon's final answer. At some point, he shifted his focus away from God and unto himself and everything fell apart. He became a king like many other kings. Rich and pompous. And soon after his death the kingdom fell apart.
Following Christ is a lifelong journey. One in which, we have to recommit ourselves daily. We have to daily seek God's face. Daily ask for wisdom. Daily walk with him. Or like Solomon we may lose our way.
So we come today to once again hear God's call to us and to recommit ourselves to following that call. We come praying for wisdom and for a discerning heart so we can serve the world God so loves. And trusting that God will bless us to be a blessing for others.
That is the final answer.
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