Solomon was a very wealthy king.  When the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s prosperity and wisdom, she travelled to see for herself.  When she saw the abundance of his wealth and wisdom, she flat out FAINTED!!!   1 Kings 10:4-7 says, "And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.”  (KJV)

We learned in Day #3 that Solomon gave 1,000 burnt offerings to God, and God blessed him with supernatural wisdom and riches beyond compare.  But somewhere along the way, Solomon forgot the value of his sacrifices and the value of the gifts God had given him.  Let’s make it relevant for today……Can you imagine physically going to your bank or ATM (or writing a check) on 1,000 separate occasions, and physically taking it to your church…..worshipping God with it, and leaving it on the altar?  Then, when God asks you to tell Him what he can do for you, you tell Him you would like wisdom to rule righteously over your household (or over your department on the job, or over the people in your town, or over your business).  Then God says to you, "Okay, I’ll give that to you, but I’ll also give you $500 billion so that no one will ever compare to your riches.”  Then, after awhile, you start binge drinking, partying and sleeping around with 1,000 partners.  With God’s supernatural wisdom and $500 billion, none of us can imagine doing something like that.  How could Solomon forget the value of his sacrifices?  How could he forget the value of his gift of supernatural wisdom and prosperity? 

To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).  With his gift of wisdom and prosperity, Solomon had a responsibility to judge and rule over his kingdom righteously.  After all, it was what he asked for.  In today’s verse, Solomon’s mother tells him, "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.”   She was telling him to fight the noble causes  of the poor people of his kingdom.  He should be the mouthpiece for those who had no voice in his courts, and he should have mercy on those who were sentenced to death unjustly.  As king, he could stand up against such injustices, and pardon their offences.  Instead, he had sinned against God, and now his mother was trying to talk some sense into him.  Solomon wrote his mother’s prophecy in Proverbs Chapter 31 for our benefit, so both men and women would be forewarned to never allow the same kind of foolishness to happen in their lives.    (Repeat the GEM FOR TODAY several times throughout the day.)   

GEM FOR TODAY:  Father, Your Word says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”   Help me to understand and believe the truth of your Word.  (Men say) I AM A MAN OF VALOR, AND I VALUE GOD'S PRICELESS WOMAN.  (Women Say)  I AM GOD'S PRICELESS WOMAN, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen