《智慧之門》Day02
《以神為先的智慧》
3 所羅門愛耶和華，遵行他父親大衛的律例，只是還在邱壇獻祭燒香。4 所羅門王上基遍去獻祭；因為在那裏有極大的邱壇，他在那壇上獻一千犧牲作燔祭。5 在基遍，夜間夢中，耶和華向所羅門顯現，對他說：「你願我賜你甚麼？你可以求。」6 所羅門說：「你僕人－我父親大衛用誠實、公義、正直的心行在祢面前，祢就向他大施恩典，又為他存留大恩，賜他一個兒子坐在他的位上，正如今日一樣。7 耶和華－我的上帝啊，如今祢使僕人接續我父親大衛作王；但我是幼童，不知道應當怎樣出入。8 僕人住在你所揀選的民中，這民多得不可勝數。9 所以求祢賜我智慧，可以判斷祢的民，能辨別是非。不然，誰能判斷這眾多的民呢？」10 所羅門因為求這事，就蒙主喜悅。11 上帝對他說：「你既然求這事，不為自己求壽、求富，也不求滅絕你仇敵的性命，單求智慧可以聽訟，12 我就應允你所求的，賜你聰明智慧，甚至在你以前沒有像你的，在你以後也沒有像你的。13 你所沒有求的，我也賜給你，就是富足、尊榮，使你在世的日子，列王中沒有一個能比你的。14 你若效法你父親大衛，遵行我的道，謹守我的律例、誡命，我必使你長壽。」(列王紀上三3-14)
你們要先求祂的國和祂的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。(馬太福音六33)
3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to Your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:3-14)
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
分享：《列王紀上三》記載了所羅門人生中重要的一刻：向上帝求智慧。縱然所羅門仍然在邱壇獻祭燒香，但經文形容「所羅門愛上帝」(v.3)，於是上帝向他顯現，並要賞賜他。當時所羅門關心的是怎樣帶領上帝的百姓。畢竟他年紀尚輕、經驗有限，所以他向上帝求智慧，為的是能夠正確地、有效地帶領百姓，治理國家。
上帝喜悅所羅門這樣的祈求，因為所羅門並沒有為自己求壽、求富，反而關心怎樣治理上帝的子民。於是，上帝不單賜他智慧，就連他沒有祈求的事，就是富足、尊榮等都賜給他。因此，所羅門當時的國力一時無兩，達到一個「前無古人，後無來者」的程度。
各位，所羅門所作的跟耶穌在《馬太福音》所說的應許如出一轍：「你們要先求祂的國和祂的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。」(太六33) 所羅門並沒有為自己求什麼，但最後仍能得著很多祝福，因為他先思想上帝的事。這樣的態度，是出於所羅門對上帝的愛。唯有真正愛上帝、將上帝放首位的人才能做到。
曾經有一個弟兄，他很努力事奉，但越事奉卻越不快樂。當別人問及他的原由時，他坦承是因為他並沒有從上帝那裡得到什麼祝福。他認為自己已經「先求祂的國」，為什麼並沒有得到他想要的「這些東西」呢？原來，表面看來他是將「祂的國」放首位，但實際上仍然是將「這些東西」放首位。
或許，在所羅門得著治理百姓的智慧之先，他已經擁有了「以神為先」的智慧，這是出於他對上帝的愛。由大衛到所羅門，他們成功的原因也是因為這智慧的秘訣：「以神為先」。
反思：你認為自己有否「先求祂的國和祂的義」？如果上帝今天要賞賜你，你又會求什麼呢？
禱告：親愛的天父，我們愛因為祢先愛我們。求祢讓我們明白祢的愛，又以愛作回應，將祢放在首位。求祢叫我們學習所羅門以祢為先的見證，以這樣的見證榮耀祢的名。以上禱告，奉主耶穌得勝的名求，阿們。
Posted in CGCEp17