2 Chronicles 1:7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

There are moments, I think in every person’s life, at which we have to decide what we want. Counselors of all sorts have to ask this question, because there is no real forward motion without a goal. Solomon famously asked for wisdom, which was a far better thing to ask for than any of a number of possibilities, but then once he had it, he didn’t use it very well. We are responsible not only for what we seek, but for what we do with whatever we get. Few of us get the kind of blank check Solomon was given, but we all need to examine our goals and our stewardship. “Stewardship” is most often used in church settings in relation to money, but it applies to everything we have. As Paul rightly pointed out, “It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) The King James puts that as, “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful,” and that’s where we get the whole terminology of “stewardship.” The whole point of a steward is that he manages stuff that doesn’t belong to him. Frankly, we have trouble with that. We tend to think of the abilities and resources we have on hand as ours, to be used however we like. However, the Biblical perspective is that since God created everything, it belongs to Him and we only have use of it for a while. Sadly, not very many people really live that way, but for those that do, there is doubtless abundant reward. (Matthew 25:21, 23)

One time I had an experience similar to Solomon’s, and at this point I don’t know if I responded rightly. I was having a very intense, rather free-form prayer meeting with just a couple of other believers, and I felt like the Lord was telling me, “Ask for anything.” I asked for the salvation of a particular individual who had been coming to our English Bible Class. Within a couple of weeks, he announced that He wanted to be baptized, and he has given evidence since that he is genuinely saved. At this point, I wonder what would have happened had I asked for the city of Omura, or even the nation of Japan! Also, that particular believer was successfully pulled away from church attendance/participation by his non-believing wife. I don’t know if I was faithful as a steward of that soul that was placed in my care. There are various gifts and abilities I have been given that I am pretty sure I’ve not been good at stewarding. I am dependent on the grace and mercy of God. However, recognizing that dependence is a huge blessing, and I am grateful.

Father, You are the judge of my life. Thank You for never leaving me alone, either in the sense of abandoning me or of giving up on me. Thank You for the multiple opportunities You give me for learning what You are trying to teach me. Help me make full use of every opportunity, (Ephesians 5:16) so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!