Made Wisdom His Obsession

Solomon made wisdom the obsession and goal of his life. Names are so important. They create mental pictures. When you hear someone speak of Thomas Edison, you think of inventions, don't you? How abour Henry Ford or the Wright Brothers?

When Solomon's name is spoken, people think immediately of Wisdom. Why? Wisdom was the Obsession and Goal of his life. No other human on earth has ever been remembered for Wisdom comparable to his. Hundreds of years after Solomon's death, Jesus mentioned the wisdom of Solomon in Matthew 12:42.

He requested of God that wisdom be his greatest gift in 1 Kings 3:11-13. "So God said to him, Since you have not 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...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...Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for - both riches and honor - so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings."

Solomon's success was not a hidden event. It was the talk of the earth!
World leaders begged for appointments with him. The wealthy brought him unforgetable, unparalleled gifts.

Solomon sought the most important thing possible. Proverbs 4:7 says, "Wisdom is the principal thing." Solomon discovered that wisdom produces wealth, gains friendship, and is more precious than silver or gold.

Solomon knew failure, which often births wisdom. He documented his deep depression and wrote about moments of indescribable pain. He was quite honest about it, and never hid his emptiness and moments of loss. Ecclesiates 2:17 "Therefore I hated life."

Solomon's father was King David, a warrior and psalmist. David wanted desperately to build the temple himself, but God personally selected Solomon. 1 Chronicles 17:11-12 says "When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his throne forever."

Solomon was the recipient of some of the most expensive gifts any human on earth has ever received. The Queen of Sheba wanted to hear his answers to her questions. She brought a gift of more than $4.5 million ( 120 talents of gold ). 1 Kings 10 says that she came by chariot more than 1,000 miles through the mountains just to sit in his presence. One of the wealthiest queens on earth brought a gift of $4.5 million in order to secure an appointment with him.