Our 'Moreover'

“‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’  The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.  So God said to him, Since you have 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…Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for…” 1 Kings 3:10-13.

God came to Solomon in a dream and gave him the ultimate opportunity – to grant him his deepest desire.  He could have requested anything, but his desires were anchored in a shared purpose with God relating to His people.  His desires came from a selfless heart instead of focusing on his own needs and goals.  He had been chosen as king in the new temple, so popularity and power among the kingdom would have been a valid request.  But Solomon saw things from God’s standpoint instead of from the standpoint of his flesh.  His focus was aligned with God’s focus.

God will come to us with blessings when our hearts are aligned with His purposes, His ways and His plans.  When our hearts are filled with our own desires God knows that our service to Him will be centered around our own selfishness.  God will lavish His blessings upon our lives when our hearts are bent towards His people and our focus is centered on His work.  We should all take note that God’s excessive blessings came as a result of Solomon’s focus on people other than himself. 

If God came to you tonight offering the same opportunity, what would your request be?  What unfulfilled dream consumes you and does it benefit the people of God?  Would your request be as unselfish as Solomon’s request?  Paul described in the New Testament what God demonstrated to Solomon in the Old Testament.  ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.’ Ephesians 3:20-21.

When our desires are aligned with God’s, we are met with a power that brings glory to both God and the church.  Our spiritual focus on earth will bless the people of God and will create significance in the eternal.  God will give us our ‘moreover’ when we are looking towards the benefit of others.