Never So Great

Shortly after he ascended the throne of Israel, Solomon received what may well be the most remarkable offer in all of history.

Appearing to him in a dream, the Sovereign of the universe told him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5).

At that moment, Solomon recognized his great lack. Instead of requesting wealth or military success, he answered the God of heaven with true humility. Ellen White wrote, “Solomon was never so rich or so wise or so truly great as when he confessed, ‘I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.’ ”* Solomon’s distrust of self led him to ask of God “an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). As long as Solomon remained cognizant of his smallness in light of the vastness of the Almighty, he and Israel were secure. Ellen White described justification by faith as “the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself.

When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.Ӡ Looking in faith to God and away from self enables the sinner to truly experience the presence of God in his or her life.

Those who are enamored with self and whose lives are governed by self-interest cannot receive the righteousness of Christ because, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they are determined to save themselves by their own works.

When God’s people recognize the depth of their spiritual need, heaven’s power will be brought to bear in their lives. Solomon simply admitted the truth. He was inadequate to fulfill the position to which God had called him.

As long as his sufficiency was of Christ, God could use him for His glory.

The same is still true. Those —and only those— who distrust self and look in faith to the Savior can live for the glory of God.