Use or Refuse: 1 Kings 3:4-15 - All Saints Sunday
You’ve probably seen the classic Disney animated movie Aladdin. A kind-hearted street thief discovers a magic lamp and befriends the Genie inside. The Genie offers to grant Aladdin three wishes. Aladdin’s greatest wish is to become a prince so he can marry the enchanting Princess Jasmine. Image by Pexels from Pixabay Today’s Old Testament reading bears some similarities. God appears in a dream to the newly crowned King Solomon and says, “Ask what I should give you.” This almost feels like a test, precisely because God is not a genie granting wishes. Still, if this is a test, Solomon passes with flying colors. He says, “Give your servant…an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil.” God is greatly pleased that Solomon asks for wisdom and not for riches. God not only grants Solomon his request, but gives him riches as well, but with one important caveat: “If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your fathe...
