"Ask! What shall I give you?"

What would you ask for if God said to you "Ask!  What shall I give you?" 

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.  Look what Solomon asked for.

1 Kings 3:5(NKJV)

5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

1 Kings 3:6-9(NKJV)

6And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 

7Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 

8And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 

9Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

First Solomon acknowledges what God has already done for him and his family and he is grateful for that.  Then Solomon acknowledges his short comings, his weaknesses.

Finally, feeling the weight of leadership Solomon doesn't ask for anything to enrich himself.  He asks God for "an understanding heart" so that he can perform his duty as judge of his people.  Specifically Solomon asks that he may be able to discern between good and evil.

What a great example.  God was so impressed with Solomon's request that He gave Solomon riches and glory and all of the things that he didn't ask for in addition to the wisdom to judge. 

And what was the key?  Solomon's true desire to serve others as witnessed by his asking for the skills needed to carry out his responsibility to others!

Folks, it's a fact.  The more you give the more you get.  The more generous you are with your time, talents, and treasurers; the more you will get back out of life.  It worked in Solomon's day and it works today as well!