The Solomon Question

​In 1 Kings 3, the story is told of a young man named Solomon. His father, King David, had just relinquished the crown and announced to the world his selection for a successor: Solomon was about to go to the next level.
 
On the verge of his promotion, God visited Solomon in a dream and asked him a question. Essentially, God said, “Solomon, as you become king over my people, ask what you want from me, and I will give it to you.” His response is an extremely important lesson for all who aspire to the next level.
Solomon did not ask for greatness. He did not seek success, prosperity, power, or wealth. Instead, Solomon asked God to change something about himself. He said, “Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
 
Solomon knew there was something lacking in himself. Moreover, he knew that if he were to receive all the wealth and power that came with being king—because of his lack of wisdom—he would ruin it. Even worse, all that wealth and power would ruin him.
 
If God were to ask you the “Solomon Question,” what would your response be? To find the true answer, simply look at what you’re already praying for. Many emerging leaders are praying for a greater anointing, a bigger church, more people, more finances, greater resources, etc., etc. Some believe they should be successful business owners, so they are seeking financial enlargement. Others believe they are called to preach to thousands, so they are praying for an international ministry. Still others believe they should have broader influence, wider connections, or a larger network, so they are seeking opportunities to bring it to pass.
 
But what we need to realize, like Solomon, is that if God does not do something “in us” first, then we will ruin and destroy that thing God gives to us. Even worse, that enlargement and success could destroy and ruin us—as it has ruined so many before us.
 
Fuller Theological Seminary Professor J. Robert Clinton researched the lives of biblical leaders over the scope of their careers. Of more than three hundred leaders in the Bible, approximately one hundred had sufficient information available to study their careers. This included Old Testament patriarchs, priests, and military leaders as various New Testament leaders. He concluded that only 30 percent of these leaders in the Bible finished well. In other words, 70 percent did not. That means only 1 out of 3 biblical leaders finished well and remained strong and productive for the Lord to the end.
 
The point is this: Many leaders arrive at the next level unprepared. Sure, they may have powerful gifts, a great education, and impressive credentials, but they often lack a foundation of character to support them through the struggles. And the struggles will come. Higher levels bring higher devils. The good news is you don’t have to be numbered among the 70 to 80 percent who don’t finish well. You can be a part of the 20 to 30 percent who overcome.
 
Solomon shows us the key. When offered the opportunity to receive from God anything he desired, he realized what he needed most was to be prepared—internally. His concern was for his character. His priority was for his inward capacity. His foundation of wisdom, integrity, humility and purity had to be enlarged in order to support the external enlargement before him. As a result, God considered him qualified for the next level and, first, enlarged his character, and then his scope of influence beyond anything he could imagine.
 
As we aspire to the next level, our focus should not be on the outward benefits we may receive, but the inward matters of the heart. What is the condition of our integrity? How prevalent is our humility? Do we demonstrate servanthood and selflessness? Do we act out of pure motives, seeking only the glory of God, or do we hope to achieve something for our own ego? These are the issues that must precede our promotion and be firmly fixed in our character.
 
For those going upward, to the next level, I want to suggest a new way of praying. Instead of seeking success, resources, more people, and more money, we should pray like Solomon. Ask God to enlarge your foundation of character first, to support the weight and pressure being added by the next level awaiting you. In fact, I challenge you to ask Him to stop your enlargement, to prevent you from being promoted if your character is not deep enough to support that promotion.
 
“Heavenly Father, I thank you for the call You have placed on my life and the enlargement I have experienced so far. However, I acknowledge that there are fractures in my character that threaten to destroy my life and all You have built. I ask you now, in the Name of Jesus, to repair these fractures before taking me to the next level.
 
“Until these fault lines in my character have been restored, do not allow me to be promoted to the next level. Stop my promotion if my character has not been prepared to bare the pressures that come with that promotion. Enlarge my character first, and prepare me to be that house founded on the Rock, ready support the enlargement you have willed my life.”
 
For more information on surviving your enlargement, check out my latest book, UPWARD: Taking Your Life to the Next Level now available on Amazon.

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