WHAT WILL GOD REMEMBER YOU FOR? (4)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*WHAT WILL GOD REMEMBER YOU FOR?(4)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

1 Kgs 3:1-15

*And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.*

v2 *Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days.*

v3 *And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.*

v4 *And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.*

v5 *In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.*

v6 *And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.*

v7 *And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.*

v8 *And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.*

v9 *Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?*

v10 *And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.*

v11 *And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;*

v12 *Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.*

v13 *And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.*

v14 *And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.*

*And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

What you give God can give you stature before Him.

Pro 18:16 *A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.*

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Solomon did not have any talents or skills but his unique ability to create opportunities, earned him a reputation and influence that brought God down to him.

His sacrifice of one thousand burnt offering to God opened doors of success to a man who came to God as *"...a little child:......who knew *"....not how to go out or come in.*(1 Kgs 3:7) but by the time God finished with him, he had become the richest man and King to ever lived in the Old Testament (OT).and one whose giving went unmatched through the whole of the OT.

It is recorded, besides his outstanding wisdom, there was nothing used by Solomon other than gold in his time.

According to 1 Kings 10:21 and 2 Chr 9:20, all of King Solomon's drinking vessels and utensils were made of pure gold.

Silver were as stones, 1 Kgs 10:27.

In 1 Kgs 10:14, the weight of gold that Solomon received in a year *.....was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,* (666 talents of gold)

The abundance of gold made Solomon's success and prosperity unparalleled in OT biblical history all because of his offering and his speech that pleased the Lord.

This encounter teaches us more than giving. It teaches us that as much as prayer is good, it is important we back.our requests with sacrificial giving.

People pray to God, they do thanksgiving in the Church but bring nothing to the altar of God!

The emphasis on gold highlights the unparalleled prosperity and luxury of his reign.

It was not only just a giving but *".....a thousand burnt offerings.......upon the altar.*, 1 Kgs 3:4.

A continued process of repeated sacrifice, not in hundreds matched by a relentless pursuit to please God by all means.

God was so pleased that He told Solomon He would give him more than a wise heart but also give Solomon.what he had not asked for and if Solomon would walk before Him with a faithful heart, He would give him long life, 1 Kgs 3:11-14.

Solomon in his life time *"......spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five."*( 1 Kgs 4:32).

Solomon's success through this sacrifice brought him opportunities and influence. He had great audience and support from influential people when he was building the temple.

Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, she brought gifts, of 120 talents of gold and spices in vast quantities, and precious stones, 1 Kgs 10:10 and 2 Chr.9:9.

Hiram, King of Tyre, supplied cedar and wood 1 Chr 14:1

His character sustained him before God.

There was no war in his time, 1 Kgs 4:24-25, 5:4, 1 Chr 22:9, until he sinned against God (1 Kgs 11:1-14).

Solomon's sacrifice preceded his request.

His sacrifice opened the door to ask for whatever he wanted.

God remembered him throughout his life.

He was in God's thoughts.

Sacrificial offerings have voices. The sacrifices may have spoken louder than Solomon's voice.

God had the voice of the sacrifice first before Solomon's voice.

Though what he gave God gave him stature before God, there is an admonition to also maintain a godly character before Him, 1 Kgs 3:14. It teaches that as much as God loves your giving, He admonishes righteous living.

He is remembered as the wisest mortal to ever live, just by what he gave.

God remembered all his *"......offerings,....."* and accepted his burnt sacrifice;. He granted him according to his heart and fulfilled all his counsel, Ps 20:3-4

What would God remember you for?

*Remorse corner.*

God remembered Solomon not only for his request but also the sacrifice he offered along with his request.

*Call to Word action.*

When people request from God along with sacrificial giving there is often an accelerated answer from God, God was pleased with his request and his sacrifice was a remembrance.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

God not only remembers you in your prayers he remembers the sacrifices along with your prayers.

*Prayer.*

Lord remember all my *"......offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice,* (Ps 20:3 in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.