1 Kings 3:5-10 “That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.  And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted!  Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.”

When determining the perfect gift for someone, an excellent first step is to begin by seeing things from their perspective. Many times we give what we would like to receive instead of considering what we know of the person receiving the gift and how they would view things. God offered Solomon an amazing gift – anything he wanted!  Now, nobody should suggest that God could not figure out for himself exactly what would have been the perfect gift for Solomon but instead he offered the young king a “blank check”. Had Solomon only viewed the gift from a selfish perspective, surely he would have asked for riches, or fame or the death of his enemies. But he knew he would have to rule the nation of Israel. The gift he was being offered, while his, would be something that would affect, to a very great degree, the people he was to rule…God’s chosen people. Therefore, Solomon considered the offer from the perspective of his subjects. What gift would best serve them? Solomon determined that ruling with understanding and wisdom was the ‘perfect gift’ he could give to himself and his people. God thought so too and gave him more than he asked for!

Pray: “Father God, help me to put myself in another’s shoes when trying to decide how to bless them. What would bless me might not necessarily be ‘perfect’ for them. Let placing others before myself be the first gift I give to those around me, following the example of my Lord Jesus, in whose mighty name I pray – Amen.”