What Do You Want From God?
No matter how many times through, Proverbs is always fresh.
Maybe it’s because we’re always in a different “place” and
the wisdom speaks to us right where we are. With that in
mind, where are you right now?
Understand Proverbs on a deeper level by understanding where
Solomon was when writing. Look at his family and how he grew up.
Consider his father, King David.
Here’s a man who was a warrior, a fighter. Here’s a man who
had woman problems. When David saw Bathsheba, he had to have
her even though she was the wife of one of his army elite.
(Curious that the army was off fighting and David was at
home.) When the discovery was made that Bathsheba was
pregnant with David’s child (Solomon), David had Uriah
called back from the front lines for a little R&R. But
because Uriah was true to his troops, (and David!) he
refused to lay with his wife. He couldn’t with a clear
conscience when his men were fighting and dying.
David’s plan to hide the real truth about Bathsheba’s child
was foiled. On to plan B. Have the troops pull back in a
battle leaving Uriah exposed to enemy fire. in every sense
of the word, David murdered Uriah.
So how could he be, as the Bible states, a man after God’s
own heart? Do you feel that your past keeps you from being
loved fully and completely by your heavenly father? Don’t
believe that lie. Just look to David. God loved him.
He loves you. Period.
Back to Solomon. He was the one destined to build the
Temple. While David wanted to, he couldn’t because of the
violence in his life. God told him that blood would never
leave his household; a prophesy that certainly was true. So
is it any wonder that Solomon’s name, Schlomo in the Hebrew,
means “peacable”. Throughout the life of “the man of peace”,
Solomon worked toward building relationships as well as an
empire thus earning him the title of history’s richest man.
It’s interesting to note that instead of battling the
neighboring states, he would often marry into the family of
the leaders. Why would a king want to invade the place where
his grandchildren lived (and stood to inherit great riches)?
Solomon had 700 wives and 300 sex slaves. Sure, Dad had
woman problems; while son had multiplied woman problems.
Eventually, the power of the woman played a big part in
Solomon’s undoing.
When Sol was just a lad, he inherited the kingdom. When
queried by God about what he wanted most, his answer was
“wisdom” to lead the people. And God granted his wish. One
of his first acts was to offer 1,000 sacrifices prior to
starting the temple. He put God first and did it in a
dramatic way by offering years worth of sacrifices all at
once. He put sacrifice and worship before everything.
How would your life change if you put worship before work?
Don’t pass over that question. Stop. Think about it. Now.
What do YOU want from God? (You really have to want it.)
Do you really want it?
The answers to these questions are the foundation of your
very life. It is decision time. Now.
Begin with this:
“The fear of The Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
Think of a building. The taller the skyscraper, the deeper
the foundation must be in order to hold it up. Otherwise it
will topple. Think of your foundation.
Is it about you? Or God?
If you want to go higher, you have to dig deeper. Thinking
back to Solomon, the most important thing you will ever do
is build a temple. (That’s you - a place where people can
find the presence of God) You see, God doesn’t want you to
have just His “stuff”, His blessings, He wants you to have
His mind!
It will take dedication on your part to be open to this blessing.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Sol