What to ask from God?

“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?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

-1 Kings 3:9-10, NIV

In 1 Kings chapter 3, verses 1 to 15, Solomon went to the most important high place to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. When the night came, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask for anything that he wanted, and that God would grant whatever that is. Solomon then asked for a discerning heart, which would help him govern God’s people and distinguish what is right and what is wrong. God was pleased when He heard this from Solomon, and so, God didn’t just grant the request, but also gave him some bonuses – which are riches and honor. God also promised Solomon a long life if he obeyed God, like what his father, David did.

When I’m observing these events in this chapter, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that these events speaks a lot in our Christian lives. First is when Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord in the most important high place – this represents the time we repented when we first accept Christ and became Christians. The burnt offerings symbolizes the old desires we have before we became Christians. We burned them in the most important high place – which represents our body – and tells us how we removed these old desires from our living, since we already became Christians.

Second is when God told Solomon to ask for anything. This describes the privilege we had in Christ – that we could ask anything from the Father in Jesus’ name. And in this, we Christians had put our trust and hopes to, because we know that our prayers will be answered. Yes, it is our privilege to ask anything from God, but what kind of requests do we make? Does our prayers/request please God? One thing we should look at is that God was pleased at Solomon’s request, but why? Well I believe this is something that we Christians must know.

God was pleased because Solomon asked for something that will help him fulfil the purpose that God gave him – and that is to rule Israel as a king and become Godly like his father. He didn’t ask for anything that will fulfil his selfish desires – riches, fame, women, health – which what normally people would ask. He thought about what God would want for Him and asked for it. This is the reason why God was very pleased on Solomon’s request, and even gave him a bonus.

Now I believe this is something that we Christians must ponder about. I know that it has been normal for us to pray for the satisfaction of our desires – I can’t say that it’s bad or evil, but I believe we should change our way and be selfless, like what Solomon did when he made his request. I believe we should start praying for the things that would help us become the people that God wants us to be – to become the salt and light of this world.

Original link for the photo: http://www.parkerfordchurch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/child_praying.jpeg