“Behold, I have done according to thy words …And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour…”
Have you ever evaluated the substance of your prayers? It is a shame that the majority of our prayers tend to focus on asking for things that are really not necessary. With such a trivial nature, is it any wonder that so many of our prayer requests go unfilled?
As he was contemplating the task of reigning over a kingdom, Solomon did not ask for health, life, fame, glory, or riches (verse 11). He did not ask to be a great military leader, as his father David had been. He knew that “…for men to search their own glory is not glory” (Proverbs 25:27); therefore he did not seek to be held in esteem by any man.
What Solomon did ask for, was that which He felt was most necessary. He asked for the understanding he would need so that he could best do the job that the Lord had given him to do. This is a great lesson in the humility of prayer and is in accord with Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”
We are reminded that we were created for God’s pleasure (Revelation 4:11). Let us then have the attitude that the Lord “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6), and as the Psalmist said, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalms 37:4).
So when we pray, let’s seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness first, knowing that all those things we lack shall be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). Like Solomon, let’s pray that God will move us into position to do His Will and prepare us for the job that He would have us to do.
Leave a Reply