April 16th

April 16th -- 1 Kings 10:1-13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2010:1-13&version=NLT)

Visit of the queen of Sheba

So Solomon's "fame" has been spreading, and the queen of Sheba hears about it and how it brings honor to the Lord, so she comes to test Solomon. She visits Jerusalem with many of her people. She spends a lot of time talking with Solomon, and he answers every question she has. The queen was overwhelmed when he answered everything and when she saw the palace he'd built. She then goes on about how all the great things she heard are true, and his people must be very happy. She gave him a huge gift of 9,000 pounds of gold, many spices (nobody every outdid her in that measure), and lots of precious jewels. Solomon gave the queen what she asked for, in addition to the gifts he had given her already, and she and her people returned home.

I'm not gonna' focus on the fact it was the queen of Sheba we're talking about. Instead I just want to focus on Solomon's fame in the land. He was like one of today's celebrities, in a way. Everyone everywhere was hearing about him - even those from far off lands, like the queen of Sheba. However, also notice what his fame did. "When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, which brought honor to the name of the Lord, ... " Solomon's honor was bringing glory to God. Solomon was not trying to claim any of his fortunate circumstances to be of his own doing, but gave all the credit back to God. He knew it was God who had been kind to him and blessed him to richly, and he didn't miss a chance to make sure everyone else knew it, too. How often are we like that? Do we always give the glory back to God, or do we just take the credit as our own? When people comment on your creativity, artistic ability, intelligence, or even kindness that seems to come naturally, do you kind of pass it off with "Oh, thanks. I try." or "Oh, thank you, I guess I was just born creative/intelligent"? Or do you try and say "Oh, thank you. I'm very blessed by God to have that (creativity, intelligence, kindness, etc)"? I think we tend to lean towards the first one. Try and remember, though, even if it may seem weird to talk about God all the time, especially when people just want to compliment you or your achievements, that all credit belongs to God, and should be given to Him. Really, we're nothing without Him. We can help show His love by sharing how He has loved us by blessing us.

Well, that's all! God bless! Shalom!