A WISE AND REWARDING CHOICE
Please take your Bibles in turn with me to 1KINGS 3:4–14.
look with me in particular at verse 5-
in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said ask what I shall give thee.
on this festive occasion young King Solomon and a great host of the congregation of Israel had come to Gibeon for his inauguration as king.
here at Gibeon some 6 miles north of Jerusalem, Solomon had sought for divine favor and blessing for this new and sacred responsibility.
Late that evening when the service was ended… The songs and music had been silenced and all the crowds dispersed from the scene… Young King Solomon was found meditating and communing with God in his royal tent.
while he was communing with God our text tells us that God appeared to him and said to him just ask me anything you want. Perhaps we look about Solomon with a measure of envy as we read the words. Ask what I shall give thee!
Here was a man who had all the earth could give: youth, wealth, glory, and greatness
he already stood on the topmost pinnacle of human happiness… And now Heaven offers him his choice of blessings.
Now the treasure house of the infinite God is opened and he is bidden to take what he will…
But beloved God is not showing favoritism!
Although you and I do not have Solomons temporal advantage… We may have his spiritual blessings… For to all who love God like Solomon did the same voice from heaven speaks to your heart and mine ask what I shall give the!
Surely him who spoke to this newly crowned King in the night visions at Gibeon still wishes to make the same offer and bestow equal blessings upon all who will love him and obey him and serve him.
like Solomon we have but to ask and God will bestow his best.
The Bible has not changed! And the promises of this blessed book or still:
everyone that ask it receive it
ask and ye shall receive…seek, etc.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.
My fellow believers I remind us that if we have need of wisdom, blessing, peace, joy or anything else… It is not God’s fault!
Every provision that pertains to life and godliness has been provided for us in Christ Jesus and desires for the asking!
Many times in the Scriptures we are commanded to ask… And the unchanging promises of the eternal word is that God is both ready and anxious to give all that is our need.
in our Scripture today I would like for us to see 3 very important truths that are presented for our spiritual growth.
Number 1–a divine offer
number 2–a wise choice
number 3–an abundant gift
a divine and unchanging offer-ask what I shall give the!
What an offer!!
the wonderful sacred to this unparalleled offer is found in one little 3 letter word ask.
and the secret to the fulfillment of every need of your life and desire of your heart is found in asking God to help you.
In Hebrew ask means to request Earnestly
in Greek ask means to call for or crave, to deeply desire
if today you need salvation…
Ask God to forgive you and save you!
The Bible is very clear as to God’s response to your request for forgiveness and salvation.
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
but if thou shalt confess with our mouth and believe in thine heart!
If today you are afflicted in body and need help ask God to touch you and to heal you!
Is any sick among you let him call for the elders of the church and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the award shall heal him.
If today you are backslidden and out of fellowship with God asking to restore you!
If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If you are saved but have never fully surrendered to the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit–then ask him to come in and fill and satisfy your soul.
If ye then being evil know-how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them who asked him.
so then–this divine offer made of Solomon at Gibeon is renewed day by day to all who will call by faith.
We have seen the divine and unchanging offer
a wise and rewarding choice
Solomon’s wise choice is found in verse 9 when he says give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may deserve between good and bad: for who is able to judge this by so great a people?
Also look back in verses 6 through 8–
all heaven is at his disposal but he asked for one thing that perhaps few would’ve ever requested–give therefore by servant an understanding heart.
A heart like this sensitive to hearing the word and will of God.
This simple request covered all of his need.
It also pleased the Lord verse 10 tells us–and the speech please the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
A divine that unchanging offer
a wise a rewarding choice
an abundant and exceeding great gift
look again in verses 11–14
Solomon asked for an understanding heart
over and above what he asked God gave–
riches–we too are heirs to all he owns an eternal inheritance
honor- no greater honor was ever bestowed upon mortal man then to be:
accepted in the beloved
hid with Christ in God
called sons of God
conditional added blessing–long life–verse 14
the secret to such bounties of heaven: ask
Solomon’s wise choice of things spiritual showed that he was worthy of being entrusted with things both spiritual and material.
He had asked not for himself… But for others and for God!
So must we! Matthew 6:33– seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto thee.
WHAT is your need tonight: the exhaustledd storehouse of heaven stands wide open and our heavenly father lovingly says ask what I shall give thee.
Shall we pray?
