Be Honest With Yourself.

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people,…” – 1 Kgs. 3:9 KJV

In today’s reference scripture, Solomon had just taken over the throne of Israel from his father and God had asked him to make a demand of Him of what he wanted after making an unusual sacrifice to the Lord. The scripture revealed that Solomon who loves the Lord and followed strictly the ways of his father David, asked God for understanding nay wisdom. The question that immediately comes to mind is the why this amount of sacrifice in the first place. It must indicate amongst other things the importance of this request to Solomon and his desperation to have it knowing how much it is needed for his success.

In the course of submitting his request, he admitted the supremacy of his subjects over him in the area of wisdom and asked God to grant him capacity to be able to handle this deficit instead of asking God to take the advantage away from them. He knew it was a huge advantage that could threaten his authority but he asked for a greater advantage instead of wishing they be deprived of this advantage. This no doubt was impressive to God as He was used to men asking for perceived enemies to be brought down by losing whatever advantage they think their perceived enemies have over them instead of making their own request in order to excel like Elisha asked of God through Elijah – 2Kg. 2:9. This unusual act also earned Solomon some bonus blessings from the Lord – 1Kg. 3:11.

You are no doubt impressed with this and already wishing you were in Solomon’s position where you have to ask God for whatever you wanted but Solomon did not get there by mere wishes but by doing what you too can and should also do as stated as follows:

1. Solomon loved God and walked in the ways of his father David who the Bible confirmed also loved God. Do you love God or what you can get from God? In whose ways are you walking? Probably in the way of your father who loved the gods of his village or more likely you love yourself and so do only things that profit you. You cannot get to this stage with God if you are not a genuine lover of God which will reflect in the way you keep His precepts (Jn. 14:15; Jn. 21: 15-25) whether it is comfortable or not.
2. Solomon was honest in assessment of himself. He admitted his knowledge deficit and desperately sort to fill the gap. Are you able to accept your areas of deficit? The scripture says no one can prosper when hiding his/her deficit – Prov. 28:13. Genuinely accept your shortcomings and ask God for help which you will with without doubt receive – Matt. 7:8.
3. Solomon was not interested in bringing down anyone but requested for an advantage he required in the course of his new position. He did not ask for this advantage until he needed it neither did he need it in order to help him oppress anyone with his new position. Why are you asking for that advantage from God? The scripture says negative intentions is one major reason why Christians ask and do not receive – Jms. 4:3.
   There is need for you to assess yourself honestly on who you are and what you are capable of doing before going to the place of prayer. Examine the nature of the request you have been placing before God at the place of Prayer with respect to how it impacts on your relationship with people. It was not just about the size of the sacrifice but was more importantly the extent of the soberness, purity and genuineness of the intention – 1Sam. 16:7.

Arrogating to yourself an ability that you do not possess will only deprive you the support you can easily get from the Lord just as expecting to get God’s support in your intention to oppress others will remain a failed mission from the beginning no matter how big your sacrifice is or how long you spend in the place of prayer.

Solomon became the best in what he did not have because he genuinely asked of it from the Lord with very positive intentions. You too can be the best in that deficit you require to excel in your destined field in life if you are honest with yourself before your God.

May God grant us the spirit to accept our deficits and possess the best of intentions as we present our request for gap-filling by the God.