Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary

How to Be Blessed
1 Kings 3:3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David… 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” … 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. (NIV)

 

If God came to you in a dream and said he would give you anything you wanted, what would be your answer?  Would you ask for power, wealth, fame, or something else? This is what happened to Solomon and God blessed him with even more than he requested. God can also richly bless you. 

There are several instances in the Bible where God spoke to his servants in dreams, and this is one of those instances. The key to this passage is found in the first sentence. Solomon showed his love of the Lord by being obedient to His teachings (v. 3). 

God knew that He could trust Solomon to make good use of this gift because Solomon had proven to God that he could be obedient. Solomon had a track record with God, and thus found favor in His eyes. 

God offered Solomon “whatever you want” (v. 5) and Solomon chose wisdom, “a discerning heart” (v. 9). This “pleased” the Lord (v. 10). He was pleased because Solomon had asked for wisdom, and not “long life or wealth”, or to conquer his “enemies” (v.11). So God granted Solomon’s request, and Solomon became the wisest man in history (v. 12). 

In addition, because God could trust Solomon, He also granted him “wealth and honor” (v. 13). God then made a conditional promise to Solomon. He said He would give him “a long life” if he would continue to walk in obedience (v. 14). 

God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Just as God blessed obedience in Solomon’s case He also blesses obedience today. 

God loves us and wants to bless us. When we get to Heaven we will see all the blessings God had stored up for us, but could not grant us. He wants to bless us, but He cannot when we walk in disobedience. 

So God cannot trust us with His blessings when we are not obedient to His word. How do we become obedient? It is through reading His word, the Bible, and then applying it to our lives that we become obedient. 

So carve out time daily to read the Bible, and obey its teachings. Obey all of its teachings, not just the ones you like, and He will bless you.