Have you ever felt like when things are going bad in life the struggles
attract more struggles? Or when things are going well, more blessings
follow? I have seen this happen time and time again in my life. As I
look back, it seems the bad things coincided with times of blatant sin
in my life. The blessings aligned with times when I was walking closer
with God. When I put Him first, things happen without me having to
stress or worry over them. I thought perhaps it was just my imagination
and then I read the story in 1 Kings 10 about Solomon and the Queen of
Sheba.
Most of us know of Solomon's wealth. The temple he erected for God was more opulent than anything we could even begin to imagine. God had blessed him and promised him wealth and wisdom incomparable to anything the world had known. The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and wanted to test him to see if the rumors were true. The scriptures say his wisdom and wealth "took her breath away." She was very impressed! So much so that we are told in 1 Kings 10:10,
"Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon."
Am I the only one taken aback by this gift? Solomon certainly did not need anything from the queen. He already had more than enough for his needs and the needs of his people. And yet, the queen was so moved by Solomon and his God, that she gave a gift like no other person ever bestowed on the King. The verses that follow give detail of Hiram's fleet giving the King large quantities of wood and precious stones. What made people give a man who already had everything such extravagant gifts?
When I read this story, I see two illustrations. One is how when we are walking with God, He will bestow gifts on us. I've experienced this personally in my life many times. I also see how we can offer our gifts to God. He needs nothing from us. God already owns everything. He created it all! However, He wants us to use our gifts for His glory. The Queen could have used her wealth and blessings for anything she wanted. And yet she chose to give them to the King. How are you using your gifts? Do you look at all God has or the people who are already serving Him and think your gifts aren't needed? This is not true! There is a reason and a purpose for the gifts you hold in your hands.
The result of the Queen giving so extravagantly is a returned blessing. "Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity." (vs. 13) How much more will our King in Heaven return to us when we surrender all our gifts to Him?
Most of us know of Solomon's wealth. The temple he erected for God was more opulent than anything we could even begin to imagine. God had blessed him and promised him wealth and wisdom incomparable to anything the world had known. The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and wanted to test him to see if the rumors were true. The scriptures say his wisdom and wealth "took her breath away." She was very impressed! So much so that we are told in 1 Kings 10:10,
"Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon."
Am I the only one taken aback by this gift? Solomon certainly did not need anything from the queen. He already had more than enough for his needs and the needs of his people. And yet, the queen was so moved by Solomon and his God, that she gave a gift like no other person ever bestowed on the King. The verses that follow give detail of Hiram's fleet giving the King large quantities of wood and precious stones. What made people give a man who already had everything such extravagant gifts?
When I read this story, I see two illustrations. One is how when we are walking with God, He will bestow gifts on us. I've experienced this personally in my life many times. I also see how we can offer our gifts to God. He needs nothing from us. God already owns everything. He created it all! However, He wants us to use our gifts for His glory. The Queen could have used her wealth and blessings for anything she wanted. And yet she chose to give them to the King. How are you using your gifts? Do you look at all God has or the people who are already serving Him and think your gifts aren't needed? This is not true! There is a reason and a purpose for the gifts you hold in your hands.
The result of the Queen giving so extravagantly is a returned blessing. "Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity." (vs. 13) How much more will our King in Heaven return to us when we surrender all our gifts to Him?
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