What is My Motive?
I said in my heart, I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 1:16
This verse gives me a glimpse of pride in Solomon’s attitude. The word “acquired” also means increased, attained, and amassed which could be taken to mean that Solomon attributed his wisdom & riches were something he had accomplished himself. Let’s go back and look at I Kings chapter 3.
In a dream God asks Solomon what He should give him and He asks God for an understanding mind to govern the people, that he may discern between good and evil. It pleased the Lord that Solomon asked Him this and he granted it to him. He also gave him what he didn’t ask for which was riches and honor. The Lord was pleased when Solomon asked for wisdom to rule the people, he wanted to be able to discern what was right. Is it possible Solomon was seeking after earthly wisdom rather than spiritual? This dream seems to be sandwiched between two other verses in I Kings 3:
- Verse 3:3, “Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.”
- Then verse 3:14, “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
In thinking about his father, David, I saw such a true humility in his relationship with God. He was always open and honest and often asked God to search his heart for anything that was not pleasing to him. Regarding Solomon, these two verses capture a couple of things that seem quite the opposite of His father.
- He continued to sacrifice and made offerings at the high places.
- He didn’t keep God’s statutes and commandments as his father did.
Solomon had a personal desire to figure out the meaning of life on his own, trying every single thing his heart desired. We don’t see him crying out to God for understanding and contentment in the world, or knowing God’s will for his life. He pursued his questions on his own. His father, David, on the other hand sought God for guidance.
