Grace Notes // When We Were Kings Week 6

Stewarding Our Splendor

Written by Keli Miller

Do you remember the scene in The Wizard of Oz when the Wicked Witch of the West sends her army of Flying Monkeys to go find Dorothy?  That’s what I picture when I read about Solomon’s army of apes and baboons. What was he doing with all these animals? What purpose did they serve?  

This week in Pastor Chris’ message we take a closer look at Solomon’s wealth and what applications it holds for our own lives.  

When God blessed Solomon with extreme wealth, do you think this was the vision he had for how Solomon would steward it? Solomon’s materialism is another example of slow leaks manifesting in his life. 

Solomon failed to grasp God’s vision for this wealth and squandered it on a ridiculous amount of apes, baboons, horses, and thrones. In this week’s message, I’m reminded of the Parable of the Talents. You know the story in Matthew 25, where 3 workers are entrusted with their master’s wealth while he’s away. Two of the men take their talents and multiply them in various business investments. But the man who received one, failed to grasp his master’s vision. From a place of fear he hid his talents away. Naturally his master was upset to find that he had done nothing with what he was given. 

This story is less about the amount of talents each worker was given and more about their vision for their master’s wealth. Two of the workers understood that what they had was their masters and captured his vision for it. The other played it safe, and sat on his wealth. 

This is a story about capturing God’s vision and making sacrifices. Surrendering what we have for the good of God’s vision. Notice how in the parable that each man that had risked his talents for the sake of his master’s vision, had his talents doubled in the end. What we give up, God will multiply; In sacrifice there is abundance. 

In a lot of ways we are practically speaking about money and how we steward our finances, but this principle goes beyond that. It is about how we steward all that we have because all that we have is His. 

Vision never looks like accumulation, but fear often does.  We need to be living with a posture of vision rather than fear. 

There’s a line from Sunday’s message that’s been sticking with me ever since: 

“Generosity will shape you, but surrender will completely transform you.” 

We give and surrender not because God requires it or needs it, but because it’s in the act of surrender that we are set free from the chains of greed and fear. It's an act of worship and adoration. 

It’s not enough to read this and take note of Solomon’s errors. We need to read this and be reminded of God’s heart. Trying to learn from Solomon’s mistakes will only take us so far. 

If we remind ourselves though, of God’s worthiness and begin to really grasp God’s heart for Heaven on earth, then, and only then, will we count the costs of surrender and find that he is worth it a thousand times over again. 

In the Word 

1 Kings 10: 14-29 

1 Chronicles 29:10-20 

Luke 7:36-50

1 Timothy 6: 3-20 

Processing

Count the Cost. Take an assessment of the talents (resources) you’ve been given - actually make a list. What’s in your hand and what is your vision for this? Partner with God in this process of discerning.  Begin this time by reminding yourself of these 4 truths: I will always have what I need.  He is worth it all, Everything I have is his. He delights in my surrender. 

Everything that we have is His. What areas are the easiest for you to believe and what areas are more difficult to live out? 

Letting go. Is there anything you’re holding on to (money, time, skills, thoughts) that you need to be first giving to God?