Matthew 6:33 ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’
DAILY READING Matthew 10:26-42; Leviticus 9-10; Proverbs 23
King Solomon was the wisest and richest King in history. He was so rich that precious metals such as silver was common place in his palace. The Bible says King Solomon mined his gold from Ophir. But the precise location of Ophir, has been one of history’s great unsolved mysteries. Explorers, scientists and theologians through the centuries have scoured the world to find this source of Solomon’s astonishing wealth. One family in particular has dedicated itself to finding the source of King Solomon’s wealth. A descendant of this family named Tahir Shah, is today a writer and documentary-maker, and author of the travel book ‘In Search of King Solomon’s Mines’. Tahir Shah’s grandfather had launched an expedition to search for the hidden gold mine in what is now Yemen. While his father had also launched an expedition in Sudan in search of Solomon’s gold. And today, Tahir has taken up the mantle and has continued the search for Solomon’s secret gold mine. In the account of his journey, Tahir Shah took directions from a mixture of geological, geographical and folkloric sources. The evidence points him towards Ethiopia, the ancient kingdom which claims its descent from king Solomon. Tahir Shah’s trail takes him to remote towns and ancient sites including the ruined castles of Gondar, and to the churches of Lalibela, hewn from solid rock. But the hardest leg of the journey is to a mountain, which local legend says housed an ancient shaft which was once the entrance of King Solomon’s mines. Shah hired a team of mules and trekked into this mountain. He scoured the peak and searched for hidden caves, but the only one he found ended in a dead end after just 25 feet. All his efforts, time and money spent on this quest only led him to a dead end!. His adventures are documented in his book ‘In search of king Solomon’s mine’. Tahir still has not given up the search for Solomon’s hidden gold. He still believes he will find the gold someday. Such is gold fever. Such is the thirst and quest for King Solomon’s hidden riches. Indeed in every generation, men will keep seeking the secret path to King Solomon’s riches. Yet if only they take the time to really study King Solomon’s story in the Bible, they will know the secret to his great wealth.
It has been said that the secrets of great men are in their stories. The secret to all of Solomon’s wealth and exploits was because he loved the Lord. Solomon’s breakthrough came not because he sought riches, but because he loved The Lord, and out of that love came the desire to please God, which led to his sacrificing a 1000 burnt offerings unto The Lord. When God visited him and asked what he wanted, he did not ask for riches, rather he asked for wisdom. And God not only gave him wisdom but also riches as well. Indeed when we seek God and His kingdom first, every other thing will be added unto us. When we love God and the interests of His kingdom, God will give to us what other people are dying to get including riches.
1Cor. 2:9 says “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him”.
As seen in the life of King Solomon, God has great and amazing things laid up for those who genuinely love Him. The place of God in our heart determines our placing upon the earth. Seeking God and His kingdom first has to be the priority in our lives. We must love God for who He is and not only for what He does. The foundation of the love of God has to be in place before other things are added to us.
We need the anointing of love on our lives to make the most of our labour on the earth . And you cannot love God and not know. When you love Him you will obey Him no matter how difficult it may seem. If you love Him you will promote His kingdom. The truth is that you cannot make God first, and become the last. If you will let Him get the throne of your heart, He will secure a throne for you on the earth. When you are lost in His will, He will be lost in your welfare. And you cannot love God and be a loser. Every lover of God is a star in the making. Every lover of God is highly favoured and ends up a trailblazer and a pacesetter on the earth. And one way to express our love for God is to be thankful and continually give Him praise at all times for His marvelous doings in our lives. King Solomon wrote 1500 documented songs as an expression of his love for God. And the Bible says God is no respecter of persons but is rich unto all who call upon Him. King Solomon expressed his love for God both in words and in deeds and in so doing he connected to unprecedented wealth. And anyone who will today do what Solomon did, by loving God wholeheartedly, will also connect to the same amazing dimension of blessings.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to make You priority in all that I do. Please keep my heart always panting after You and the affairs of Your Kingdom, May my zeal for You never wane in Jesus Name.
QUOTE: When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.