When Solomon as a young king was visited by God in a dream, God asked him what He could give him. Solomon asked for wisdom to help him rule instead of personal riches, so God decided to give him both, in abundance.
14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that which came from the explorers and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the west and from the governors of the land. 18 The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. 21 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.
23 Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 1 Kings 10:14-15, 18,21,23 (ESV)
Thus began such an influx of gold into the palace that Solomon really did not know what to do with it all. He received 666 talents of it each year, (an interesting number), which is around a billion dollars or Euros received each year when valued in today’s money.
Solomon used the gold to cover everything. There was so much gold, the scripture says, that silver was not even worth the notice.
The problem with having so much money around is that, contrary to what we might expect, it breeds discontentment with life.
The apostle Paul addressed this in his first letter to his young mentee, Timothy.
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NKJV)
One of the misconceptions about the Bible is that it calls money the root of all evil. That is not what it says. Money is a necessity for everything, including ministry, and for ongoing sustenance, including for the vulnerable people that God watches over so carefully – the widows, orphans, and sojourners.
What the Bible DOES say about money is as this:
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV)
God’s word tells us that the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Thus, like Solomon, we, too, face a great challenge if we are blessed with more money than we have had before – how would we use it in a godly and healthy manner? Are we tempted to fall in love with the concept of having more and more money, and falling out of love with God?
One important concept which the Bible champions is personal contentment. Satisfaction and gratitude for all the blessings God has given us are key. These thread through almost all discussions of money in the Bible, and there are several. The implication is that the more money we have, the more we will want, and the less contentment we will have.
The author of the book of Hebrews puts it this way:
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
So, how are we to treat money? Where do I draw the line between earning or gaining the money I need to live on and to improve the quality of life for my family, and starting to fall in love with the concept of gaining ever-more money?
God wants us to be blessed in life. A little prosperity at times goes a long way towards life’s enjoyment. It permits a special meal with the family, a more comfortable residence, or some time away from our labor for a period of rest and rehabilitation.
But when gaining more prosperity becomes the major obsession of our lives, it can drain away all of our appreciation for the rich blessings that God has already given us to enjoy. It can easily soak up our free time and demand our exclusive focus, leading us further and further away from spending quality time with God, the Giver of all good things.
As Solomon’s life went on, he began to draw away from the God who had placed him on Israel’s throne, and to worship the other gods of his many wives instead. Did his vast wealth play a role in this? Did God make a mistake by giving him too much wealth, and did it contribute to his eventual spiritual slide? What if Solomon had used his vast riches for good instead of for accumulating and covering over expensive things – would he and Israel’s future kings have been more successful?
We do not know the answer to these things, although we do know that God does not make mistakes. But unfortunately for Solomon, who reigned at the height of Israel’s great kingdom age, he would in the later years of his life begin a slide away from God and towards Israel’s future downfall and captivity at the hands of Assyria and Babylon.
But as Romans 9-11 and many unfulfilled Old Testament prophecies tell us, God is not yet through with Israel. We will look at several of these yet-unfulfilled prophecies in future meditations.
Reflection
We often believe that if God would only give us some great wealth, we would be different from others, and liberally share it with everyone around us who has a need. But would we really? Most of us are not immune from the temptation of the love of money should it come our way. It is a temptation to be mindful of.
Is the pursuit of money demanding more and more of our time and attention as we seek to safeguard it and to multiply it? If so, what might that focus be leading us to neglect?
Father God, we thank You for making possible all of the financial blessings we need to provide for our families, to share with Your kingdom, and to enjoy some times of refreshment with gratitude and contentment. Guide me in all my financial decisions and how I regard the provision You have made possible. Help me to use wisdom and to place You first in my daily spiritual and financial life. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 