Earthly v. Heavenly treasures.

Scripture:
1 Kings 10:21 "All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days."

Observation:
When God appeared to Solomon the first time, he offered him anything he wanted. Solomon chose wisdom to lead the people. God decided to grant that and bless him with wealth beyond imagination because he did not seek things for himself. Now, we read that in his day silver was of little value because of the vast amounts of gold he had.

Application:
Isn’t it amazing that the God who owns all the gold and all the silver on earth gave so much gold to his chosen that silver was thought of as nothing. All the things used in the palace were made of gold – everyday objects – cups and other utensils. God did this for Solomon because he had not chosen
selfishly when God offered him whatever he wanted.

The Bible says that everyman that exalts himself will be made low, and God will bring up every man that humbles himself. Solomon realized that he needed wisdom to rule God’s people because of his youth and inexperience in leadership. Thus, he asked for the intangible riches needed to do so not the fame and fortune most people seek. Because he humbled himself before God, God raised him up to be the wisest and greatest king Israel ever had.

I am also reminded of the story (or at least my recollection of it) how a man worked his entire life to amass a great quantity of gold. He desired nothing more than to die with his gold and take it to heaven. The man thought that this great commodity on earth would be of great value in heaven. Finally the man dies and goes off to heaven packing his vast horde of gold in tow.  When he reaches the pearly gates, Moses, who begins inventorying the man’s things, greets him. They converse for a while. Moses sees that his name is in the Book of Life and grants entry into heaven. However, Moses stops the man on his way in and says, "Your job won’t be playing a harp on a cloud. Oh no, your on the road crew." The bewildered man glares at Moses intently and asks, "Why?" Moses kindly replies, "Well you did bring a ton of asphalt with you, didn’t you?"

In heaven gold is the stuff used to pave the streets. It is as common in heaven as asphalt is here on earth. What we hold to be riches in this life are merely everyday occurrences in the hereafter. Jesus told us not to lay up riches that can be stolen or broken or rusted away. He said to lay up riches in heaven. Those riches are the saints that come to know Jesus is this life with whom we share eternity in the next life. Lay up gold bricks of the right kind in heaven not the ones used to pave streets.

Prayer:
Father, how sad it is that man spends most of his life trying to acquire and accumulate things in this life that will only be left behind to another, as Solomon wrote in the Proverbs. I have never really been one to need a lot of things in this life. Having some things and some money makes life a bit easier, but you have taught me that they are not everything. You are the only real provider in the universe. What should happen if the things of this world were gone, what would people do then? Most would turn away from you and begin to kill, steal and destroy like their father, the devil. Help me to develop such a strong faith in you that when tough times do come, I will have the Solid Rock to stand on as my foundation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.