Solomon’s Power, Wealth and Wisdom
20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the [e]seashore in abundance; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.
21 [f]Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the [g]River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
22 Solomon’s [h]provision for one day was thirty [i]kors of fine flour and sixty [j]kors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, twenty [k]pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 24 For he had dominion over everything [l]west of the [m]River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings [n]west of the [o]River; and he had peace on all sides around about him. 25 So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 26 Solomon had [p]40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 Those deputies [q]provided for King Solomon and all who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month; they left nothing lacking. 28 They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge.
29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of [r]mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and [s]Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his [t]fame was known in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish. 34 [u]Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
Now, there’s an interesting bit right at the beginning here. If you know any history, it’s not uncommon to find a king and his friends eating lavishly, and generally having plenty of merriment to go around while their people suffer and starve in hovels.
But in Israel, while Solomon’s table was spread with incredible plenty, the people were likewise enjoying plenty. Solomon’s splendor was not at the cost of his people, it was because his people were being blessed as well.
This all points us back to one very important fact: Solomon’s wealth and wisdom were both gifts from God. Just as he shared that with his people and the surrounding people’s, God does not pour out blessings for us to be stingy misers.
It’s far too easy to fall into one of two traps with money. First, there is this idea that God wants us to be poor, and that wealth is evil. While our attitude about money needs to be guarded, it’s the second trap that we are to look out for. And this is just as I alluded to earlier: wealth is not a gift to be help with a closed fist, while the needy suffer around you.
Whatever God has blessed you with, don’t let fear hold you back from sharing it. Be generous in all you do, not just with money, and see what else God can do in your life, and in the lives of those impacted by your generosity.