2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (NIVUK)
11 God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honour, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’
God loves Solomon’s response and his desire to put responding to God’s call on his life first in this way. His response, to give Solomon all the other things he could have asked for but didn’t. In this, the passage echoes Matthew 6:33 where Jesus says, ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ Of course, this doesn’t mean that we ask God for the things that we think he wants us to ask for in order that he might bless us in ways we really want! Instead it is a reminder of God’s grace and generosity and that we can trust in him to look after us if we place him first.
Father, our motives are usually mixed at best, but we know that it is right to put you first, and we want to do this. Help make this our true ‘heart’s desire’.
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