1 Kings 10

When Success comes to visit

So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. ~ 1 Kings 10:23

What would happen if everything you had ever prayed for suddenly showed up at your front door? The opportunity you wanted, the financial increase you needed, the influence you hoped for, the recognition you worked for, and the success you dreamed about. Would it draw you closer to God, or would it slowly make you think you didn’t need Him quite as much anymore?

That’s one of the things that makes today’s scripture reading so interesting. Solomon had become incredibly successful. The Queen of Sheba came to see him because she had heard about his wisdom and wanted to discover for herself whether everything she’d heard was true. She arrived with questions, gifts, and great expectations, and Solomon answered everything she asked.

What she saw left her amazed. She saw his wisdom, his servants, his organization, the food at his table, and the way everything in his kingdom operated. She was overwhelmed by what God had done through Solomon.

But there’s something in this chapter that catches my attention. Solomon had reached a level of success that very few people will ever experience, and that kind of success came with a great responsibility. The more God gives us, the more important it becomes that we remember where it came from and why we have it. Success isn’t just about what you have. It’s about what happens to your heart along the way.

Here are three important truths to consider today about handling God’s blessings, opportunities, and influence.

1. Don’t let God’s blessings become your focus instead of God

Solomon had riches beyond imagination. Gold was coming into the kingdom in abundance, and the Queen of Sheba brought him an enormous amount of treasure. He had everything people today would probably put on their dream list. But material blessing can be dangerous when the blessing becomes more important than the One who gave it.

We can do the same thing on a much smaller scale. We may not have gold coming in by the shipload, but we can still become consumed with what we have, what we want, and what we think we need next. Sometimes we tell God, “If You would just give me this one thing, I’d be so thankful.” Then He gives it to us, and before long we’re already asking for the next thing. It’s amazing how quickly “God, thank You for providing” can turn into “God, do You think You could provide just one more thing?”

Here are some ways you can begin to put this truth into practice today:

• Thank God specifically for what He’s already provided before asking Him for something else.
• When you receive an increase, opportunity, promotion, or blessing, ask God how He wants you to use it.
• Practice generosity instead of allowing possessions to become your security.
• Remember that your identity comes from being God’s child, not from what you own or accomplish.

Maybe your blessing right now is a new job, a growing ministry, a healthy relationship, financial provision, or an opportunity you’ve prayed about for years. Enjoy it! Thank God for it! But don’t let the gift become more important than the Giver.

2. Let your life always point people toward God

The Queen of Sheba didn’t simply notice Solomon’s possessions. She noticed the wisdom that God had given him, and her response was to praise the Lord. That is so powerful. Solomon’s life had become evidence of God’s goodness to someone who came from outside his kingdom.

That should challenge us because people are watching our lives too. When people see how we handle success, pressure, conflict, disappointment, money, relationships, and opportunities, they’re seeing something about the God we serve. We don’t have to preach a sermon every time we walk into a room. Sometimes the way we live says more than our words ever could.

Here are some ways you can begin to put this into action today:

• When something good happens, give God the credit.
• When someone compliments you, receive it graciously, but remember who gave you the ability to do what you do.
• Let people see your faith during difficult seasons, not just when everything is going well.
• Use your influence to encourage people rather than drawing attention only to yourself.
• Ask God to use your life to make people curious about Him.

Maybe you have a position at work where people look to you. Maybe you’re a parent, grandparent, ministry leader, business owner, teacher, coach, or friend that others trust. People are watching but that doesn’t mean you have to perform or pretend to be perfect. Thank goodness, because none of us would make it through the week! It means we can allow God to work through ordinary people who are willing to live differently because we belong to Him.

3. What God gives you is meant to be stewarded, not simply enjoyed

Solomon had tremendous resources, but with those resources came tremendous responsibility. His kingdom wasn’t simply a showcase of everything he owned. He had people to lead, decisions to make, and a nation to steward. God does the same thing with us in our lives today. Whatever He places in our hands carries a purpose.

Your home can be used for hospitality. Your finances can help someone in need. Your experiences can encourage someone who is walking through a similar season. Your gifts can serve others. Your influence can open a door for someone else. Even your difficult experiences can become tools God uses to help someone else.

Here are some ways you can  begin to put this truth into practice today

• Ask God, “What have You placed in my hands that You want me to use for Your kingdom?”
• Look for one opportunity this week to use your resources to bless someone else.
• Make a list of your gifts and experiences, then ask God where they can be useful.
• Don’t wait until you have more to start being generous with what you already have.
• Consider your influence as a responsibility, not simply a privilege.

You don’t have to be wealthy or famous to make a difference. You don’t even have to have everything figured out. You simply need to be willing to use what you already have. One of the greatest dangers in life isn’t always having too little. Sometimes it’s having enough that you forget your need for God.

Solomon’s story reminds us that success can be a wonderful gift, but it can also become a test of the heart. The question isn’t simply, “How much has God given me?” The better question is, “What am I doing with what God has already given me?” Maybe this is the season where God is increasing your influence. Maybe He’s opening doors you’ve prayed about. Maybe you’re finally seeing some of the fruit from years of faithfulness. Celebrate it, thank Him, enjoy what He’s doing but also keep your heart pointed toward Him.

The Queen of Sheba came looking for Solomon’s wisdom, and what she discovered was evidence of the greatness of Solomon’s God. That’s the kind of life I want to live. I don’t want people to simply see what I’ve accomplished. I want them to see what God can do through someone who is willing to trust Him.

Today I want to encourage you to enjoy every good thing God places in your life but never allow the blessing to become more important than the One who gave it. Ask Him for wisdom to steward your opportunities, resources, relationships, and influence. Let your success point people toward Him, and when He opens a door, don’t just ask, “What can I get out of this?” Ask, “God, what can You do through this?”

You may not have Solomon’s palace, his gold, or his international reputation, but you have something just as valuable. You have a life that God can use. Let Him use everything you’ve been given. And when people look at your life, they will see more than your accomplishments, they will see the goodness of the God who gave you the wisdom, strength, opportunity, and grace to do it.

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 10

1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 

2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 

3 So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. 

4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 

5 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 

6 Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 

7 However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. 

8 Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 

9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”

10 Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 

11 Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. 

12 And the king made steps of the almug wood for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.

13 Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

14 The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 

15 besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.

16 And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. 

17 He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 

19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round at the back; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. 

20 Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

21 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 

22 For the king had merchant ships at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys. 

23 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

24 Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 

25 Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.

26 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 

27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland.

28 Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price. 

29 Now a chariot that was imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse one hundred and fifty; and thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Journal:

• What blessings has God placed in my life that I need to thank Him for today?
• Is there anything I have allowed to become more important to me than God?
• What opportunities or resources has God placed in my hands right now?
• How can I use my influence to point someone toward God?
• Where do I need wisdom to steward somethin