9 [The queen of Sheba] gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon …. 12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country. (2 Chron 9:9,12)
22 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. (2 Chron 9:22-24)
King Solomon was fabulously wealthy with goods and wisdom. I’ve highlighted two parts of 2 Chronicles 9 to make a few points.
1. The queen of Sheba gave him tons of gold and more – but Solomon gave the queen more than she brought to him! This is the model set by God for us in all our relationships. Our Creator God gives us infinitely more than we bring to him. Parents give their children more than they give to them. We should give our brothers and sisters in Christ, and not-yet believers more than they bring to us.
Test yourself to see if you are following this pattern of giving.
And what did Solomon give the queen of Sheba? Gold? Horses? I suspect not.
2. In verse 23 we see that wisdom is what people considered most precious of all. Even in our affluent cultures today [and we enjoy many things which even King Solomon did not have!], wisdom is the prized possession that people seek. And where does wisdom come from? God.
Are you seeking wisdom above all else? Do you recognize its True Source?
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