1 Kings 3:3-15
(Solomon loved the Lord and followed all of his father David's instructions except that he continued to sacrifice in the hills and to offer incense there.)
4 The most famous of the hilltop altars was at Gibeon, and now the king went there and sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings!
5 The Lord appeared to him in a dream that night and told him to ask for anything he wanted, and it would be given to him!
6 Solomon replied, "You were wonderfully kind to my father David because he was honest and true and faithful to you, and obeyed your commands. And you have continued your kindness to him by giving him a son to succeed him.
7 O Lord my God, now you have made me the king instead of my father David, but I am as a little child who doesn't know his way around.
8 And here I am among your own chosen people, a nation so great that there are almost too many people to count!
9 Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. For who by himself is able to carry such a heavy responsibility?"
10 The Lord was pleased with his reply and was glad that Solomon had asked for wisdom.
11 So he replied, "Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people and haven't asked for a long life, or riches for yourself, or the defeat of your enemies--
12 yes, I'll give you what you asked for! I will give you a wiser mind than anyone else has ever had or ever will have!
13 And I will also give you what you didn't ask for--riches and honor! And no one in all the world will be as rich and famous as you for the rest of your life!
14 And I will give you a long life if you follow me and obey my laws as your father David did."
15 Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and went into the Tabernacle. And as he stood before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all of his officials to a great banquet.
Solomon was quite young when God called him to be king after David his father, he loved the Lord with his heart and also longed to serve him daily. Solomon knew that his job as a king was serious business and he was still a youth.
He acknowledged his inexperience and asked for God's help and not man's help. In his heart there was no other alternative after God.
Sometimes we are called upon to do a job we can hardly handle or find ourselves faced with very challenging conditions. When that happens, let us remember Solomon and ask the Lord for help and wisdom to carry out the assignment given to us effectively and efficiently.