2 Chronicles 1:7-13 - Don't be Selfish

Introduction

I want to begin by asking you this.

Have you ever noticed that if we were to split a piece of cake we would at least consider giving our self the biggest piece?

The truth is that even if we take the smaller piece we likely considered taking the larger one.

We unfortunately are born selfish.

That being said,

what would you ask God for if you could ask for anything?

Would it be a few more moments with a loved one who has passed?

perhaps it would be a blessings of money?

Or someone liking you.

It may be a selfish request or it may not be.

Whatever it is there is, an example we can follow in 2 Chronicles about a man named Solomon

He was a king who had been blessed mightily

You see we find ourselves just a few weeks beyond the Christmas season

Many of you have given and received gifts just a few short weeks ago.

It is often said is better to give than to receive and I pray that's how you feel

But, God was about to offer King Solomon an opportunity to choose his gift and here is what he said

2 Chronicles 1:7–13 KJV 1900

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

1.Solomon was blessed, So are We

King Solomon had received many blessings from the Lord

in fact, he would find himself here a king over many

He was certainly a blessed man

actually in verse 9 Solomon admits to that by saying

2 Chronicles 1:9 KJV 1900

Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

God had promised that the line of David be blessed and rule over a great number

King Solomon was one of those beneficiary's

What if I told you today that you to have been blessed beyond measure.

Sure you may not be a king, you actually may not feel blessed at all.

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Christ has given us our needs

Yeah it may not always be flashy, but we can know we are blessed people if we are children of the Lords because he will supply our needs.

How wonderful it is to know that Christ will supply my needs because I have given my life to him

Friends, he will do the same for you if you will just give your life to him by admitting that you have sinned and turning from that and to him

King Solomon may have had more than some of us but one of the most vital parts to this scripture is that he knew what he really needed.

He knew that money, or monetary blessings would not play benefit to him in the long term.

2. Ask for what is beneficial for the kingdom

It should not be our first thought if we were in this situation to ask for something selfish

It would be of our benefit if what we were to ask was what would benefit the kingdom of God.

So I ask you today, what can you do better

Where can the Lord help you.

If you know where the Lord can help you do you find yourself asking him for that help.

God asked Solomon simply “what shall I give you?”

Solomon's reply, you have blessed me beyond measure, give me wisdom and knowledge to lead thine people.

Can you imagine, the privileged to receive anything from the Lord.

Completely unselfishly, Solomon asks for wisdom on knowledge top lead the people of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters we need to seek that in which is for the betterment of the kingdom.

God may not have placed you in such authority as Solomon.

A king to lead the people of the Lord

But he has placed you somewhere

Wherever the Lord has placed you I urge you to seek what is for the kingdom

Not to seek what may selfishly benefit you.

But to seek that the Lord may do a great work through your requests

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Whatever we do we should seek kingdom first

If you find yourself today, seeking that which is selfish

Don’t do that any longer

seek the kingdom, seek the Lord

He has blessed you abundantly.

He has blessed me abundantly

forsake the selfish desires of what we want.

for what the kingdom needs

3.When the kingdom is what you are seeking God will do a miraculous work through it.

2 Chronicles 1:11–12 KJV 1900

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

If you want the Lord do bless you

You must feel supported by the needs he has supplied

In that you do not beg for selfish desires

You only seek through him what may better the kingdom of the Lord.

Because Solomon asked unselfishly, the Lord blessed him far beyond what he could have ever imagined.

I am certain, you like myself have found yourself seeking something selfishly

Do you really think when doing that our focus is on the kingdom of the Lord

I am saddened by the truth that it is not

But when we are willing to forget ourselves, to seek the things of the Lord.

Our Lord will do amazing things through us

So the real question is, are you willing to give up your wants so that the the kingdom can be strengthened?

For Solomon he needed wisdom that he would be able to discern good from evil among the people and Judges accordingly

His request of wisdom if upheld properly could eliminate a lot of mis information and corruptness down the road.

Our sacrifices today could prove to be just as important.

Application

In applying the truth of Gods word today

How do you find yourself responding to your life through your requests to the Lord.

In our prayers, do we ask for that which would please us on this earth?

The truth of the scripture is that you have a key to the thrown room of God through your prayers

It is through those prayers you can ask anything you well please.

God may not grant it, but you have the privileged to speak directly to the father through the son.

I want to challenge you today in asking yourself, how do my requests to the father uplift the kingdom of the most high God.

If you are saved today, are you asking for the things to equip you where God has you planted?

Is all of your focus on the kingdom of God.

Solomon had to have focus on the kingdom, not what he wanted.

God had placed him as king, how can his request better equip him in that position.

If you are unsaved today it is wonderful to know that just as Solomon, God will provide for the needs of his children.

Yet I am afraid there are some out there who cannot call themselves God’s children.

friend let me tell you when you give your life to him you will never breath better.

Even in the hard times we have the promise that God will provide the needs of his children.

I plead to you today, to make that leap into faith.

I promise you it is not a blind leap, it is a leap into what we already know.

Conclusion

Do not be one who lives this life selfishly

Do not be one who expects God to give you all of your smallest requests.

God has never promised us that we would get everything we wanted

But he has promised he would supply our needs

So I ask you today, if you are a christian, when you go to the Lord in prayer do not do so with selfish ambition

Do so with hope that he can strengthen you where he has you.

In prayer that you can do his work more faithfully because he has equipped you

If you find yourself unsaved today, what is holding you back.

You may say, life's been hard and I don’t know where to turn

I will tell you it sure is nice to know that God will provide my needs

It is sure nice to know that as a child of his, no matter how bad things may feel he supplies for me

If you find yourself watching this today and you say I have never made that commitment to Jesus Christ.

I have just came to a recognition that I am a sinner in need of a savior.

and I don’t want to live this life this way any longer.

Would you listen to these words and I am about to pray and if you so feel the pull to Jesus Christ you can pray them along with me.

Father, I know I am a sinner. I see that I am in need of a savior, would you be that savior. father I see that you have went to the cross of Calvary, and died for my sin. would you forgive me of my sins and draw me unto you. Amen

If you have made that decision or another today there are a few avenues in which you can contact us on the screen right now.

But if you find yourself today, still in need of a savior. If you find yourself today, saved but still seeking selfish ambition.

I pray that the convicting power of our Lord would do a great work in you in the coming days.