2nd Chronicles 9 BEYOND THE WEALTH What is the point of one's lifetime spent in this world? How can we measure worth - of time, of truth, of intellect, of character, of one hour, of one's place in God's plan of things? When material things like gold and the great accumulation of assets begins to defy description, it helps to understand the difference between that which is human and that which is divine. "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul," is an apt description of things through God's eyes. It would not be worth a billionaire's time to stop and pick up a $1000 bill if he dropped it. He or she would have to spend more money every day than a middle-income worker would earn in a year to use up $1 billion during their adult years. So, when we read descriptions of Solomon's wealth, we have a tendency to think only of unprecedented extravagance rather than the fact of God's promise.
As a young man he was concerned with the people of God he was called to lead, and his need of wisdom from God to lead well. By the time he was half way through the years of his reign he was extremely wealthy, but still conscious of God and the temple of God which was the center of national interest. By the end of his life, Solomon, the man, was the focus of his own attention. His fame, his splendor, his wealth, his wisdom, his palace, his throne were the objects of awe and wonder by the queen of Sheba who came to see if what she had heard could possibly be true.
The writer of the Chronicles copied nearly word for word the historical account from the book of Kings in his effort to emphasize the importance of the future, and the potential value of that which is ahead. Rather than grieve over all that was lost and taken from Israel to Babylon, and lament over that which could never be restored, he wrote a brief historical account of events that would impress the present generation of the worth of that which their forefathers had. He didn't recount their failures and the idolatry that Solomon made and condoned. To do that would have served no useful purpose for the present need.
Unless there is some real need or spiritual purpose to be learned, to dwell on the failures and faults of the Lord's people has no value. Usually when a person or persons do that, it is with the purpose of putting themselves in a good light by comparison. Self-exaltation in any form serves no purpose and probably is abhorrent to most people in the long run. If we chose to focus attention on that which is right and profitable, there can be positive results that come from positive choices made.
The visit of the queen of Sheba (Yemen) was referred to by our Lord when He was here, and He pointed out that it was Solomon's wisdom she came to hear. The wisdom of our Lord that is available to us is far greater than that of Solomon. Riches and honor, power and fame are transient and can be lost very quickly. Twenty- five tons of gold came into Solomon's hands in a year. And all that was taken away from the land of Israel in a much shorter time. Eternal things always take precedence over the temporal. Spiritual things take precedence over physical things.
The queen of Sheba left with more that she brought, but what really counted was the impression created by the witness of Solomon's wisdom, the happiness of those who served him, and the love of God for His people Israel. She understood God wanted that kingdom to remain and maintain justice and righteousness in the nation. We may hear people say, "God is among you in truth," but that may not mean they want to be a part of what they see. Unless a person can see beyond the external evidence of a gathering of God's people to the One whose witness we maintain, they will not want to pay the cost of "buying the truth and selling it not." It is not what is seen that is important, but He who is the object of our faith. We gather unto Him "whom having not seen, we love." The outward trappings cannot hold people to the truth. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ alone can do that.