That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you! [2 Chronicles 1:7 (NLT)]
No one is really happy merely because he has what he wants, but only if he wants things he ought to want. [St. Augustine]
In the many television tributes to the recently deceased actor Gene Wilder, a scene from the movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory frequently has been aired. In it, Willy tells Charlie not to forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wanted. When the boy asks what that was, Wonka replies, “He lived happily ever after!”
While that exchange made for a nice ending to a children’s film, getting everything we want is hardly the way to guarantee living happily ever after—unless, of course, we only want the right things! Yet, even wanting the right things is no guarantee of happiness. Look at Solomon; when God asked what he wanted, the young king requested the right thing—wisdom. God rewarded him not just with wisdom but also with riches, possessions, honor and fame. Here was a king who truly got all that he wanted plus more. Surely, with everything that Solomon received, he should have lived happily ever after.
Nevertheless, all the wisdom and wealth in the world could not give meaning to Solomon’s life. Although gifted with wisdom, he failed to use it when he broke God’s rules for kings by amassing horses, collecting a harem of 1000, accumulating riches by excessive taxation, sealing alliances by marrying foreign women and worshiping pagan gods. Although he got everything he wanted, Solomon did not find happiness. His words in Ecclesiastes show us how disillusioned, bitter and disappointed this wealthy sage was when he realized how empty his life had been without God at its center.
Getting what we want will only lead to a happily ever after if we want what God wants for us and if we use His blessings with a wisdom far greater than Solomon’s. Let us never forget that God’s answers to our prayers often are not what we think will make us happy. They are, however, always what we need. Moreover, God has already given us all that we need for our happily ever after: His beloved Son, forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. [C.S. Lewis]
As I stood by the community pool, taking photos of the grands, I noticed that I wasn’t the only person keeping watch. Two lifeguards kept their eyes on the pool full of people. These young women probably go all summer without having to rescue someone and their main purpose is to keep rowdy children (and adults) in line. Still, it is a tremendous responsibility for a couple of teenagers. As attentive as they were to the swimmers, I wasn’t about to trust either one of them with the safety of my loved ones and my eyes remained on the little guys.
As I look out the window, I can see the cars and trucks speeding off to their various destinations. Meanwhile, I am at the gym, feverishly pumping away on the elliptical and going nowhere fast. What really annoys me is that, no matter where I put it, my Fitbit doesn’t fully credit me for my steps or distance. If I’m going to break a sweat and cover a couple of miles on that pitiless machine, I want credit for all my work! Next to me is my husband pedaling the stationary bike. Like me, he’s expending a great deal of energy to go absolutely nowhere and his Fitbit, like mine, won’t properly acknowledge his effort!
I often find myself lost in the Bible, fascinated by this amazing book of history, poetry, passion, and wisdom. Comparing translations and reading commentaries helps me understand the context and meaning of verses. Knowing something about the specific church to whom Paul was writing, for example, allows me to better understand his directions, many of which seem peculiar in today’s world where churches don’t argue about circumcision and food isn’t offered to idols. For example, Paul wasn’t playing fashion police when giving instructions about hair length and head coverings to the church in Corinth. Although Greek women worshipped without head coverings, Jewish women had always covered their heads in worship—an uncovered head for them was a sign of loose morals. Moreover, in Corinth (the city with Aphrodite’s temple and its 1000 prostitutes) both long hair on men and short hair on women were signs of prostitution. Paul was trying to unify both Jewish and Gentile believers and prevent anyone’s appearance from interfering with their ability to be a witness for Christ. Bible study also makes old familiar verses take on deeper meaning. David’s sorrowful words of repentance in Psalm 51 are even more poignant when we know they refer to his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Bible study, however, is far more than an intellectual exercise; it enables us to know God as He revealed himself in Scripture and then to weave His word into our daily lives.
My doorbell rang and, by the time I got to the door the FedEx man was walking away, having left a large box on the porch. As he backed out of the driveway, I shouted a thanks and brought in my latest order from Amazon.
The elderly Abraham and Sarah laughed at the thought of the two of them making a child and the old Jewish priest Zechariah doubted his barren wife could conceive. Yet, a thirteen-year old virgin believed that she would miraculously bear a son and a pagan Roman officer believed Jesus could heal his servant with just a word.
Devotions of the Heart 