1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4
1 Kings 7 briefly pauses the narrative on the construction of the temple and describes the palace buildings Solomon built for himself. These were designed with similar grandeur as the temple built for God. It is apparent Solomon was very wealthy based on the resources required for the temple and his own personal projects. This initially might seem contradictory to the thirty wise sayings in Proverbs that teach to “not wear yourself out to get rich” (NIV, Proverbs 23:4). However, it is evident that wealth was not Solomon’s primary goal as his focus was mainly on God—at least at this point in his life.
Earlier in the story, in 1 Kings 3, God appeared to Solomon and told him to “ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon was given the opportunity to ask for anything, but he did not choose wealth. He did not “trust [his] own cleverness” (Proverbs 23:4) as the eighth saying in Proverbs 23 warned against, but rather desired wisdom from God to govern the people. God rewarded Solomon by granting him a “wise and discerning heart” as he asked for (1 Kings 3:12). Further, because God was pleased with Solomon’s wish, He also gave him “both wealth and honor” (1 Kings 3:13). Solomon sought wisdom, and wealth was generously provided to him by God. He did not sacrifice wisdom to pursue a love for money, and didn’t hoard his wealth for himself either. He chose to build a house for God before building his own palace. Although he was very wealthy, Solomon’s life aligns with the proverbs arguing against chasing money.
The rest of Saying 8 in Proverbs 23 depicts the temporary nature of materialistic wealth. It states, “cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone” (Proverbs 23:5). No amount of wealth is permanent, and it can be removed or destroyed at any given time. Even with the significant amount of resources used to build the temple and palace they would not last forever. The Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar plundered the temple treasures (2 Kings 24:13), and eventually all the great structures Solomon constructed with his wealth were destroyed with the rest of Jerusalem in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:8-10).
Solomon was wise in seeking wisdom first rather than riches, and he understood that money is not worth pursuing. Any resources given by God can then be dedicated back to Him and used for righteous purposes. Although Solomon was rich in resources, he was wealthy with wisdom too.
-Josiah Railton
Reflection Questions
- Is having wealth good or bad? Why? or When?
- What is the problem with chasing after money and wealth? Have you seen anyone get further and further from the Lord as they chased after money?
- What might it look like to put your trust in God and not in your finances?
- What do you want to be known for being rich in? (Money, wisdom, kindness, etc… – HINT: Money is not the correct answer.) What steps will you take today to make an investment towards that end?
- Why do you think Solomon built the temple before his palace structures? How could we follow his example? How can we use the resources God gives for righteous purposes?
Seek Grow Love 