“I am also giving you what you didn’t ask for, riches and honor greater than that of any other king throughout your life. More than that, if you will live according to my ways, obeying my laws and mitzvot like your father David, I will give you a long life.”-1 Kings 3:13-14
In the Lord’s promise to Solomon during the dream encounter, there’s one caveat we shouldn’t overlook.
God told Solomon He would grant him long life…IF you obey my ways.
Did you catch that?
Solomon’s being able to live a long life was based on Torah obedience.
After Solomon awakens from his dream, he returns to Jerusalem and heads to the Ark of the Covenant, where it’s stored in a makeshift tent prepared by David many years before.
He then offers more sacrifices at the altar in front of it.
Now, there’s another thing I wanna point out.
Take a look at verse 13:
“I am also giving you what you didn’t ask for, riches and honor greater than that of any other king throughout your life.“
The phrase I wanna focus on here is “throughout your life.”
For some weird reason, the Greek Septuagint and some of its Bible translation offshoots omit that phrase.
The problem with doing that is that we get the impression the text is saying Solomon is going to be the richest king who ever lived for all eternity.
Scripture doesn’t say that.
And honestly, factually speaking, that probably isn’t true.
There could have been a king who surpassed Solomon’s net worth after he passed.
But who cares?
He was the richest king in his lifetime.
And you know what?
At the end of his life, Solomon also didn’t give two hoots.
He concluded…
“Whoever loves money never has enough;
Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied
with their income. This too is meaningless.”
-Ecclesiastes 5:10
This parallels what Felix Dennis, one of the richest men in our modern age, had to say:
“Even if you should succeed in becoming rich,
unlikely as that is, what will you have achieved?
Independence of a kind?
The luxury to choose what you wish
to do with the rest of your life?
Happiness? No, no, and no.
You will not achieve any of these things.”
Felix also added:
“The rich are NOT happy.
I have yet to meet a single really rich
happy man or woman-and I have
met many rich people. The demands
from others to share their wealth
become so tiresome, and so insistent,
they nearly always decide they
must insulate themselves.
Insulation breeds paranoia and arrogance.
And loneliness. And rage that you have
only so many years left to enjoy rolling
in the sand you have piled up.”
And that’s your takeaway for today.
Focus on the Kingdom of Heaven…
And the Lord will provide for all your needs.
I can testify that He has done that in my life.
And He will do it for you.
That is real wealth.
Ya feeling me here, homie?
Done.
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