Even More

1 Kingss 3:9-14

“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
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.”
The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 1  

Foundations are important. King David has died, son Solomon is King. David was not allowed to build the Temple; Solomon is to rule and build but it is an unfolding process. Solomon wants to love the Lᴏʀᴅ but is unsure how to express that love.

God gives him answers in a dream. God says to Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you.” In Solomon’s dream, Solomon pours out his heart to God on what’s foremost in his heart:
     – an understanding mind to govern
     – ability to discern between good and evil

“It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.” God responds affirming that because “… you have not asked for yourself long life, riches or the life of your enemies…” that God gives you the ability to fulfill His desire in leadership. Excellent. Now that’s the dream you want to wake up after!

But wait—there’s more. God continues,

I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
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.”

Have you ever imagined getting more than you asked for ‘in your wildest dreams’? Foundations and abundance? How much beyond your expectations does God desire for you? Ephesians 3:14-21 is Apostle Paul’s perspective on the ‘dream’ life in Jesus that God desires for you:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 2

‘According to His riches in glory,’ ‘filled with all the fullness of God’ is more than you can conceive but don’t envision mere stuff—God paves the streets of heaven with gold which only has the value He gives it.
But then, so is your value. Can you live in God’s ‘even more’ for your life?

FOOTNOTES:
1 1 Kings 3:2-3 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/1ki/3/2-3/s_294002
2 Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/eph/3/14-21/s_1100014
1 Kings 3:9-14 (ESV) - https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/1ki/3/9-14/s_294009
All Scripture references from the Blue Letter Bible, ESV
at https://www.blueletterbible.org
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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