1 Kings 3:5-15

God's Gifts and Solomon's Choice.

"And God said, Ask what I shall give thee," etc. "Happy Solomon!" we exclaim, as we read these words. He had all that earth could give already—youth, wealth, prosperity. glory, greatness. He stood already on the topmost pinnacle of human felicity. And now Heaven offers him his choice of blessings; now the treasure house of the infinite God is opened, and he is bidden to take what he will. Behold the favourite of Heaven! It is indeed true "there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee" ( 1 Kings 3:12 ). But stay! Solomon's is not an exceptional case. If we have not his temporal advantages, we may share his spiritual blessings. For to us—to all, that is, who, like Solomon, "love the Lord"—does the same voice speak, saying, "Ask what I shall give thee." Yes; He who spake to this new crowned king in the night visions hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, saying, "Ask, and it shall be given you." Let us consider—

I. LIKE SOLOMON , WE ARE COMMANDED TO ASK . It is not that we are permitted so to do: it is made a positive duty. If we do not ask, we sin. "Ask," "seek," "knock"—these are the injunctions of our Lord and Master. Asking is an essential part of our religion. "Prayer is the Christian's vital breath."

II. LIKE SOLOMON , WE HAVE BUT TO ASK , AND GOD WILL GIVE . Solomon was not a favourite of Heaven. God has no favourites—that would argue imperfection in the Deity. "Every one that asketh receiveth," etc. "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord," etc. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God ....and it shall be given him." If we have not wisdom, blessing, pardon, peace, it is all for want of asking. God is "more ready to hear than we to pray." And observe here: we are commanded to ask, and God is sure to give, because He loves to give; it is His nature and property to give. Not only (as has been beautifully said) is "the greatest Being in the world the greatest giver." but it is an essential part of His perfections to give. We often say "It is more blessed to give than to receive," but God acts on this principle. It is the nature of man to take. The first lesson the child learns is to grasp. Covetousness, the desire to have, is a part of our being. It is a part of His being to desire to impart. He abhors a vacuum.

III. LIKE AHAZ , MANY SAY , "I WILL NOT ASK ." They will not believe in the wonderful charity of God. To some it seems too good to be true. But many have no room for God's gifts. Their heart is full already. "No room for Him in the inn."

IV. LIKE SOLOMON , LET US ASK THE BEST GIFTS . That is an instructive fable which tells how Hercules, on attaining manhood, went out into solitude, and sitting down there, deliberated long and anxiously with himself which of the two ways before him it were better to take—the way of pleasure, or the way of virtue. Such a crisis, involving such a choice, happens in every life. Solomon must now make his choice, and it really lies between pleasure and duty, between temporal and eternal blessings. He may choose glory, wealth, renown—in a word, earthly pleasure and prosperity—or he may choose character, wisdom, goodness; in other words, heavenly and abiding treasure. We know which he chose. So each one of us has to choose in turn between the showy and the solid, between the higher and the lower, between God and Mammon.

"Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide

In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side.

Then it is the brave man chooses, while the coward stands aside,

Doubting in his abject spirit, till his Lord is crucified."

V. IF , LIKE SOLOMON , WE CHOOSE THE BEST GIFTS , THE OTHER AND INFERIOR BLESSINGS ARE THROWN IN WITH THEM . Consider: God gave Solomon wisdom because he asked for it, and at the same time gave him wealth because he did not ask for it. His choice of the higher showed he was fit to be entrusted with the lower. The gifts men covet most, viz; "riches and honour," are of so little account with God that He adds them as a make weight. Just as when we buy a jewel the case is thrown in as part of the purchase, so those who choose the better part receive at the same time all that is necessary for them. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." And here again observe, that not only is it God's nature to give, but to give "exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think." He is "wont to do more than either we desire or deserve." Thus the disciples asked for a form of prayer ( Luke 11:1 ). Our blessed Lord gave them their desire, and gave at the same time what they never dreamed of asking for—some precious directions as to the spirit of prayer, as to perseverance in prayer, etc. ( ib. 1 Kings 3:5-18 ). The same idea is embodied in a stanza of Wordsworth's—

"I knelt before Thy gracious throne,

And asked for peace with suppliant knee;

And peace was given; not peace alone,

But love and joy and ecstasy."

It was in the night visions that God spoke to Solomon. It is in no dream, no vision, but in His own written word, He says to us, "Ask what I shall give thee." Which shall we imitate, Solomon or Ahaz? Shall we have all or none? But it may be said, Solomon's wisdom did him no great service after all. His prayer did not keep him from falling. But why was this? It was just because he ceased to care for wisdom and piety, and ceased to ask for it. Learn, then, in conclusion—

VI. IF , LIKE SOLOMON , WE CEASE TO COVET THE BEST GIFTS , AND CARE ONLY FOR THE LOWER , WE SHALL CERTAINLY LOSE THE FORMER , AND MAY POSSIBLY LOSE BOTH . So that Solomon's prayer may teach us this last lesson, that "men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Yes, it seems, as we think of the beginning and then of the end of this puissant prince—it seems as if his father's last words must have been prophetic—"If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever" ( 1 Chronicles 28:9 ); and Solomon's fall solemnly echoes and emphasizes the words which follow—O that he had laid them to heart!—" Take heed now" ( 1 Kings 3:10 ).

HOMILIES BY J. WAITE