Solomon’s Wealth and Wisdom
Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon’s table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty.
Solomon was wise and wealthy! Back in chapter three we read that when God asked Solomon what he wanted, he did not ask for wealth, but only wisdom. Yet, God said the following:
1 Kings 3:13 (ESV)
I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
The long list above is God’s response to Solomon not asking for wealth. His daily food cost was astronomical. Just the feed for the horses was amazing. The issue with owning things is both the purchase and the provision needed to take care of it. God provided Solomon all he didn’t want and all he did want, wisdom. These two things do not have to be mutual exclusive. But we are not to desire wealth over wisdom. We are not to desire wisdom to get wealth. We are to desire to seek God and then these things are additions, not the prize. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said it this way:
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Solomon’s heart desired wisdom from God. God’s heart desired to bless Solomon with that wisdom and with His riches in a tangible manner. One who is wealthy is not always seeking God. One who is seeking God is not always wealthy. But it is possible that God brings both to our lives. But the first (seeking His wisdom) is essential before the second can be handled. Remember, later in life Solomon’s heart turns away from God to his wealth and his women. Note what he will eventually say about all the above possession chronicled in 1 Kings:
Ecclesiastes 2:11 (ESV)
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Seek wisdom and then let God do what He wants from there.
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