True North --- I Kings 1-3:15

Normally I wouldn’t find myself at this “place” in the OT. At least at this juncture. Nevertheless, since it is a portion of scripture that is the focus of our Sunday School class, and we may find ourselves in that class, I figured I best read it. Of course, God, in His own wise way, has a little message for Norm.

Since Solomon finds himself in a position of power that he was not quite anticipating, at least now in his life; the LORD appears to him in a dream and said, “Ask what I should give you”.

Oh – look! A blank check!!! What shall I fill in for the amount? Let me see, what would I like? Uhm….. It is like someone asking you what would you do if you won the power ball lottery for 189 million dollars. Heck, I do not know, what in the world do you do with all of that money!

Now I don not mean to trivialize the encounter that Solomon has with God, but we might as well face it, what would it really be like if God were to ask you or me that question? I think I know what my “pious” response would be, but I am not so sure what my “in side the mind” response might be!

Solomon – as we all know – asked for “…an understanding mind…able to discern between good and evil…” (1Kings 3:9)

The really amazing thing about this is God’s response. Since Solomon did not ask anything for personal gain, the LORD said he would not only grant that request, but riches and honor in “as well”. Do you remember that “as well” phrase?

“But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33)

It is rather amazing how God blesses our priorities. The hard part is getting our priorities in the right order. Steven Covey called it “true North” in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Once you know where true North is on the compass it becomes rather simple to find your direction. The same is true in our life. Once we know where true North is – what our highest priority is – everything else, for the most part, falls in place around that priority. If indeed, it is our priority.

What if God were to say to me “ask what I should give you”? What would I say?

LORD GOD, I don’t know that I have an answer for that question. I would like to think that my one true priority is to honor you with my life. Then, I am not even sure what that means or what that “looks like”. So I suppose my answer would be, tell me what I need. May it be.