Solomon’s answer showed humility. As a new king trying to navigate his role, he felt “like a little child” wandering around. So he asked for an “understanding heart” to differentiate between right and wrong (1 Kings 3:7-9).

God, the great giver of gifts was pleased with Solomon. This story displays God’s generosity, for not only did God give Solomon what he’d requested – a wise, discerning heart – but He also gave it to him in abundance, as a superlative. Solomon became wiser than any other human. And God lavished additional gifts of riches and honor on Solomon.

This portrayal of God as the great gift giver matches other descriptions of His generosity found in Scripture, such as Psalm 5:12; “For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love,” Jesus emphasized God’s generosity in Matthew 7:11: “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” The great giver loves to give good gifts.

Pray to thank God for His generosity; He is the great giver. Ask Him to open your eyes to see all the gifts He gives you.

Discuss and reflect on these questions:

Read Matthew 7:7-12. What does Jesus’ picture of God teach you about His character?

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

If you, like Solomon, received an open invitation to ask God for something, what would you ask for? How does the invitation of Matthew 7:7 echo the invitation of 1 Kings 3:5?

Gratitude will transform your outlook on life and God. God lavishes gifts on you, yet how often do you take them for granted? With open eyes, make a list of the gifts God has given you today.

Consider these passages for further study of God’s Gifts:

Psalm 118:24 The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

Proverbs 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

I Kings 3:3-15

Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

⁴ The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 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.”

⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

⁷ “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 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.

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

It feels amazing to give gifts. I’m always thinking of more ways to give more if possible. Great thoughts of Gary Chapman.