This is question many of us would like to see God ask us. So what do we have to do so that God will do that?
To have God ask you anything, you need to draw close to him. We can't just show up every no and then and expect God to jump when we pray. Many people only call on God when they need something and then wonder why God is not right there.
You will see in the following verses that the king (Solomon) went to the most important place and offered a thousand sacrifices on the altar. In other words he didn't go to God saying: "I want.", he went to worship God and then later God asked what he needed.
1KI 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Okay, so God asks you what you want, what would you ask for?
Lets look at what Salomon used to help him in making this decision.
This is question many of us would like to see God ask us. So what do we have to do so that God will do that?
To have God ask you anything, you need to draw close to him. We can't just show up every no and then and expect God to jump when we pray. Many people only call on God when they need something and then wonder why God is not right there.
You will see in the following verses that the king (Solomon) went to the most important place and offered a thousand sacrifices on the altar. In other words he didn't go to God saying: "I want.", he went to worship God and then later God asked what he needed.
1KI 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Okay, so God asks you what you want, what would you ask for?
Lets look at what Salomon used to help him in making this decision.
1KI 3:6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
He looked back to his Dad. This is something to remember. The same way that Solomon looked back at his Dad, our kids look at our life to help make decisions. If we aren't around, they look at others around them. We need to make sure we are a good example and we need to follow good examples.
Lets see what he asks for:
1KI 3:7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
Of everything he could have asked for, he asked for discerning heart, to know right from wrong, to be a good leader. In other words, he asked how to be a good leader. He did not ask selfishly. He was more concerned for his people then for himself. Just think of everything he could have asked for.
But check this out, watch what happens:
1KI 3:10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
Here is what God says: You didn't worry about yourself, so here is what you asked for and now I'll also give you the things you didn't ask for. God will bless us more when we are unselfish then when we are selfish.
Then God adds one more thing, like the icing on the cake:
1KI 3:14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
So now that you have everything you want, you don't need God anymore, right? Wrong. If you notice you will see that God promises Solomon, that if he walked in God's way he would continue to bless him, in his case with a long life. The same goes for us, we walk in God's ways and he can bless us.
Things to remember from this lesson:
Don't expect God to just jump, you have to spent time with him.
We (also your kids) make decisions by what we have seen others do.
Don't decide on things by what is in it for you, worry about the needs of others.
God will bless you if you take care of others.
If you want him to keep blessing you, follow him.
He looked back to his Dad. This is something to remember. The same way that Solomon looked back at his Dad, our kids look at our life to help make decisions. If we aren't around, they look at others around them. We need to make sure we are a good example and we need to follow good examples.
Lets see what he asks for:
1KI 3:7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
Of everything he could have asked for, he asked for discerning heart, to know right from wrong, to be a good leader. In other words, he asked how to be a good leader. He did not ask selfishly. He was more concerned for his people then for himself. Just think of everything he could have asked for.
But check this out, watch what happens:
1KI 3:10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
Here is what God says: You didn't worry about yourself, so here is what you asked for and now I'll also give you the things you didn't ask for. God will bless us more when we are unselfish then when we are selfish.
Then God adds one more thing, like the icing on the cake:
1KI 3:14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
So now that you have everything you want, you don't need God anymore, right? Wrong. If you notice you will see that God promises Solomon, that if he walked in God's way he would continue to bless him, in his case with a long life. The same goes for us, we walk in God's ways and he can bless us.
Things to remember from this lesson:
Don't expect God to just jump, you have to spent time with him.
We (also your kids) make decisions by what we have seen others do.
Don't decide on things by what is in it for you, worry about the needs of others.
