Wealth, Splendor and Wisdom
14 Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traders and the [g]wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country. 16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, [h]using 600 shekels of gold on each large shield. 17 He made 300 shields of beaten gold, [i]using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 18 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold. 19 There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and [j]arms [k]on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the [l]arms. 20 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. 21 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered [m]valuable in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.
23 So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24 All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart. 25 They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.
26 Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he [n]stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the [o]lowland. 28 Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 29 A chariot [p]was imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and [q]by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans.
As the Lord blessed Solomon, so word spread, and by him were the nations around Israel blessed as well. Whether it was by import or export, the riches of Solomon overflowed to just about everyone around him.
When God blesses us, He expects that we will be a blessing to others as well. His gifts to us are not to be hoarded, but shared generously, pouring out upon those around us. In short, we are blessed so that we be generous, because He is generous and wants us to be more like Him.