What Do You Want?

O

ne afternoon I arrived back in my dorm room to find an e-mail inviting me to attend a dinner in Irving, Texas, about twenty-five minutes away from the seminary.  I was to join a group of men who would serve the Boy Scouts of America as chaplains at Philmont Scout Ranch that summer. Now, being a seminarian, and not having many opportunities to attend fancy restaurants, I immediately notified the BSA to expect me for dinner!

I arrived a few minutes early and the others were not far behind.  After being seated, we were given menus and told to order whatever we wanted. I found it difficult to believe I could have whatever I wanted and immediately began to base my decisions on price. You know how it is, you make a decision but you are worried what others will think if you order a certain item. So, after much debate, I decided on my dinner entrée and promptly ordered. 

Why is it we spend an enormous amount of time talking or dreaming about what we would do if we could have whatever we wanted; but when faced with an opportunity to do so, we have a very difficult time making that decision?  Everywhere we are surrounded by get rich-quick schemes, sweepstakes entries, and lotto competitions. All of these things promise the possibility of fulfilling our wildest dreams but none of them offers true happiness.  Could it be that we really don't know what we want?

The book of 1 Kings provides great insight into the life of a man who literally could have had anything he wanted.  King Solomon is noted for his riches and his wisdom.  However, a close observation of how he obtained both of these provides a great lesson in how we should approach God when making requests of him.

1 Kings 3:5-14 records Solomon's response to God's question. Solomon's father, King David, has died and the responsibility of governing Israel has fallen to Solomon. In verse 5 God says to Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Wow!  Solomon could have anything his heart desired, and therein lies the great secret.  Solomon had rank and standing, after all he was the king.  He also had wealth and power. He could have asked to increase any or all of these things but instead, he makes a very uncommon request for someone in this position. Verse 7 records his answer, "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…So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong."

What was the desire of Solomon's heart?  It was to please God.  Notice that Solomon prayed, not out of his want, but out of his need.  This is the secret of effective prayer.  He recognized that the task to which God had called him was too big for him alone.  In addition, Solomon recognized that the people he had been called to govern were not his people but God's people.  This is what we, as God's people must do today.  We must realize that we are children, that we don't know right from wrong, that we can't effectively govern our lives without God's help.  Solomon asked for wisdom, not for himself, but for the task he had been assigned.

Let us follow his lead.  Whatever God has called you to do and wherever he has placed you, seek his guidance.  Ask for wisdom to know his will so that you may bring glory to him and be a blessing to the people you serve.  It has been said that when we get what we want, we rarely have what we need; but when we get what we need, we have what we want.  This is Solomon's testimony and because he asked of God wisely, he received the full extent of God's blessings.  So, what are you asking God for today?