Shabbat Shalom friends!

What would you do with a million dollars?

Sometimes, I daydream about this question, and others like it: what would I do with 200 acres of land? What would I do if I could freeze time? And, of extreme importance: what would I do if I had an unlimited supply of ice cream?

(OK, I don’t actually daydream about ice cream)

If you’re like me – your mind occasionally wanders down the “what if” path, and you start seeing all sorts of future possibilities.

Recently I was laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about one of these “what if’s” in scripture: what if God granted me one request, like He did for Solomon?

“On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”” – 2Chronicles 1:7-12 (also in 1 Kings 3:1-14)

We know that “God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore” (1Kings 4:29) , and that Solomon then used that wisdom to build the temple, rule and judge Yah’s people, and continue Israel’s ‘golden age’ that had begun with his father king David.

This specific request and answer reminds me of James’ words: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

So… what if?

What if Yah spoke to me in a dream or a prayer and said “Ask! What shall I give you?”

What would I answer?

Yahweh told Solomon that he would be granted his request “because this was in your heart and you have not asked” for all the normal needs and desires a person has. Similarly, James 4:3 tells us that “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

So then what would my one ask be? If not for a good marriage, being a better father, more believers to fellowship with, being debt-free, having good health, etc – all good things, but really more on the selfish side.

I started thinking about faith and hope – these things could benefit many, not just myself. But then, Paul’s words struck me: “If I have not love, I am nothing” and “the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13).

I know what Yah accomplished with a King who had been granted true wisdom… What could He do with a man who had been granted true love? 

Of course, I knew Yah was leading my thoughts here. One of my greatest flaws and weaknesses in life is that I can be callous, cynical, and unyielding. This already impacts my wife, children, family, fellowship, friends, and probably people I have never even met. I know this, Yah knows this.

So I did it. I did my “what if”.

What else was I to do?

I prayed right there that he would hear my cry, that He would grant me one request like He did for Solomon. I asked for love.

Not the washed-up, vague version of love. But love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. Love for others.

And now… I’m the most loving person in the world!

Just kidding.

But I did hear this answer: “I will give you your request, but you have to learn and earn it”.

OK, not exactly the miraculous “wisest person in the world” response I was hoping for. But a “yes but not immediately” is still better than a “no”!

I’m now on a journey to “learn and earn” a personality and character of love.

So here’s my challenge to you: what is your one “what if”? Ask it of Yahweh. Ask Him to give you your one request like Solomon.

But remember not to ask amiss. And remember that you may be required to learn and earn it.

Are you willing to do that?

I will pray for you all on your journeys. Please pray for me too!

In Messiah-

Josh