I would like us to pause for thirty seconds and think about what we treasure so much in our lives, which we will do whatever it takes to protect or achieve. We all have things that are so dear to our hearts, and I know that it’s a tall list for some of us.
Today’s gospel talks about three parables dealing with things dear to our hearts and how the wicked will be separated from the just in God’s appointed time.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44).
I have what I treasure. You also have your treasure, but the most important question always arises is whether what we worship, or prize is pleasing in the sight of God. The answer is clear for all of us hence the importance of revising the way we look at things in this life because there are many things that we are involved in or spend most of our time on that are unacceptable in our Christian journey.
We see Solomon in the Old Testament reading as a clear example of an individual who treasured doing all he could to please God above all else. From the word go, his intentions were clear: to please God, who has made him King over His people. He walked in the footsteps of his father, David, and offered many sacrifices in high places. These acts showed his belief in God and his acceptance of the sovereignty of God over all things. His deeds emphasised how he treasured God in his heart; this is a King who had already offered thousands of sacrifices on the Altar at Gibeon. After this, the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and in that dream, the LORD made the first move and asked him to ask what he would like him (God) to give him (Solomon). God will always speak to us when we put him first, treasure him God in our hearts, and he will make our parts smooth. He will come to us in a dilemma and give us the right decision.
If we make God our treasure, we will always acknowledge all he has done for us, be thankful for everything, and invite him to reign in our affairs. King Solomon, in the dream, made it clear to God that He had made him King of his people after the passing of his father, David, but he lacked many things; he was young and unskilled in leadership. Like Solomon the young King, we also have our flaws and things we lack and are unskilled about, so we need to acknowledge this fact and embrace God in all things for his support and direction. We all know that we will face difficulties, highs and lows always and direction and discernment will be a great asset that we cannot relegate to the background.
Those who have God as their treasure are not selfish but selfless and think of the greater good of all and they always ask things from God that will help them serve the people of God, and their communities better. Solomon was interested in leading the people of God in the right way that will be pleasing to God and bring the people of God to salvation, so he asked for wisdom.
“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9).
Beloved in Christ, we cannot succeed in the things of God if we do not rely on the directions and promptings of God through the Holy Spirit. For us Christians, wisdom is the mind and direction of God in all situations. It is, therefore, not misleading to say that wisdom is God, Love is God, and Might is God. Solomon’s answer to God was simple, GOD, I WANT YOU TO COME AND LEAD YOUR PEOPLE. Let us ask God to come and rule in all that we do because he is our treasure, and if we have him, we have everything. God was pleased with Solomon and will be pleased with us when we invite him into our lives. By asking for wisdom, Solomon asked for everything. Amen