Our Sermons

Bible Passage: 1 Kings 3:5-12
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  July 30, 2023

Once upon a time, there were three friends who ended up stranded on a deserted island. They tried and tried to find a way off the island, but to no avail. They resolved themselves to the fact that they were going to be stuck there the rest of their lives, when one day a genie appeared to them. He said that he’d grant each of them one wish. They could ask for anything. The first man took no time at all. He immediately wished that he could be back with his family and “poof,” he was gone. The second man also took no time to decide. He wished he could be in Paris so that he could start his life over and “poof,” he was gone. The third man, however, had a really hard time with it. He thought and thought  and he thought what he should wish for. And as he pondered, he looked around the island and he realized how lonely he was. And he muttered to himself, “I wish my two friends were back here with me.” 

Perhaps you felt a twinge of envy this morning as you heard the Lᴏʀᴅ say to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want give to you.” Perhaps the thought flitted through your mind, even if just for a moment, “I wish God would give me the same option.” But do you believe that you would have made a similar choice? Or you would have been more like the third friend in our little story? Whatever you want? Really? If anything in the world could be yours, What Would You Ask For? 

“The LORD appeared to Solomon in Gibeon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”” We find Solomon in Gibeon ready to offer sacrifices to the LORD. Gibeon was one of the chief high places where people went to worship before the temple was built. In fact, David had moved the altar and the tabernacle to Gibeon after he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It was here at Gibeon that Solomon had invited all of Israel to come. Here, Solomon sacrificed 1000 burnt offerings on the altar. It was clear that the LORD was pleased with Solomon, for on that very night he appeared to him in a dream and gave him that blank check. So how did Solomon respond? “Solomon said, “You have shown great mercy and faithfulness to your servant, my father David, just as he walked before you in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward you. You have shown this great mercy and faithfulness to him and have given him a son who is seated on his throne to this very day.” What came first to Solomon’s mind was God’s goodness: how gracious God had been to his father David, and how gracious God had already been to him. God had chosen David to be Israel’s king. He had protected him from every evil attack leveled against him. He had brought Israel to peace. But the biggest grace God had shown David was to promise that the Messiah would be his descendant. And God’s grace was continuing. For the first time in Israel’s history, a son was succeeding his father as king. God’s faithfulness is here on full display as he kept all of his promises to David.

“O LORD my God, now you have made your servant king in the place of my father David, but I am a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And I, your servant, am among your people whom you have chosen, a great people, who cannot be counted or numbered because they are so many.” Solomon’s maturity here is remarkable. As he looked at himself, he realized that he was not worthy to be the leader of God’s own people. Likely only 20 years old, Solomon was able to take an honest and humble assessment of his abilities and concluded that he wasn’t ready. He didn’t know how to be king. He even goes so far as to call himself a little child, so how could he govern God’s own people, “a great people, who cannot be counted or numbered because they are so many.” 

Put yourself in Solomon’s place. What Would You Ask For? Can you imagine his dilemma? What should I pick, temporal blessings for eternal ones? What should I value, the things of this world or the things of God? Listen to what Solomon asked for. “Now give to your servant a perceptive heart to judge your people, to distinguish between good and evil, for who is able to judge this great people of yours?” In the eyes of the LORD, Solomon’s request was good. So God said to him, “Because you have asked for this, and you have not asked for a long life, nor have you asked for riches, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but you have asked for discernment to reach just verdicts, therefore I will act according to your words. Yes, I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you before you, nor will anyone like you rise up after you.”

Solomon asked for the ability to fulfill his vocation as the leader of God’s own people. When he had a blank check. When he could have had riches, when he could have wiped his enemies off the face of the earth, he asked for wisdom in governing. It was a selfless choice. It was a humble request. It was a practical gift that Solomon could use not just for his benefit, but for service in God’s kingdom. Solomon chose spiritual wealth. Obviously, God was pleased. He was pleased because Solomon put God first by putting God’s will first. God was pleased because Solomon sought to do right by God rather than by himself. God responded by giving Solomon wisdom unlike any other. Not only that, he gave him the things that he didn’t even ask for! “In addition, I will give you what you have not asked for: such riches and honor that there will not be anyone like you among the other kings throughout all your days. If you walk in my ways by keeping my statutes and commands just as your father David did, then I will give you a long life.” 

We can’t help but sit back and marvel at this story! Because when we’re honest with ourselves, when we honestly ponder, “What would I ask for?” We quickly recognize how we fail so often. It’s not for all the riches of the world that we turn down spiritual wealth, but for paltry overtime hours or a little extra in the bank account that we shaved off our offerings. For such small things we are far too often willing to trade away opportunities for true, spiritual wealth. We really don’t want to ask ourselves that question because we know that deep down we wouldn’t ask for the same. 

Jesus tells us, “Amen, Amen I tell you: Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.” It’s the same offer, isn’t it? When it comes to spiritual wealth, God promises that he will give us whatever we ask. Didn’t Jesus say the very same thing another way when he said, “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened for you.” While it’s not exactly an apples to apples comparison, God has given us a similar invitation. So how should we respond? Let’s follow Solomon’s pattern.

Ponder this question: Are we blessed? Just the fact that we are sitting here today is evidence of God’s amazing grace. He has given us life and sustains our life. We get to be in God’s house! He brought us here. He sent the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament to bring us to faith and to know and believe in Jesus as our Savior. He has forgiven our sins and given us the gift of eternal life in heaven. He has provided a gathering of believers here who regularly gather around his Word to be encouraged by his promises of love and forgiveness. He has provided well-trained called workers to help teach us and our children about his love. He has provided fellow Christians to help bear our burdens. Need I go on? How gracious God is to us each day!

And like Solomon, as we examine ourselves, we recognize how inadequate we are for the work God has assigned us to do. When we stop to ponder this, it is a heavy responsibility. We have the responsibility to tell of Jesus’ love. This affects people’s eternities! He gives us the responsibility of being a Christian spouse or child, of raising our children to know and believe in him and to live in praise to him. He gives us, as the church, the responsibility of being a beacon of light in the world of darkness, that each of us praises him with lives of service in whatever task we are undertaking. And like for Solomon, it can be overwhelming! And so like Solomon, we humbly seek spiritual wealth. We take to heart what Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We seek the unselfish, practical gifts that will help us to serve in his kingdom. That doesn’t mean that we live as mendicant monks. He doesn’t ask us to forego all earthly treasure. He just doesn’t want us to value them more than the pearl of great price. After choosing spiritual treasure, God blessed Solomon in unbelievable ways. And he promises the same for us.

What Would You Ask For? Everyday, God gives us the opportunity to search the inmost depths of our soul. Everything we do here on earth gives testimony to what is important to us and where our heart is. And so with Solomon, we pray: LORD, help me to the best God-pleasing spouse that I can be. Help me to love my wife in the same way that you love the Church. Help me to support and honor my husband as he leads our family. God, give me the wisdom and guidance to best discipline my children in a way that leads them to praise and glorify you. Help me to be the example of Christian living that they can follow and imitate in their lives. Give me the knowledge to share your love with them so that they grow closer to you in your Word. Give me the words to say and work through those words to bring people to know of your love in Jesus. God give me the wisdom and discernment to understand correctly the situations that confront me each and every day and to handle them in a way that gives you glory. Help me to speak fitting words that will lead others to glorify you as Savior.

 The most priceless treasure that we have is the Kingdom of God. We are citizens in his Kingdom and we serve him forever through Jesus our Savior. Friends, forever starts right now. God has given you a blank spiritual check to ask for anything you want according to his will. Seek spiritual wealth! Seek for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and God will bless you in everything else as well! Amen.