We see a tremendous blessing bestowed on Solomon by the LORD in I Kings 3:11-13:
Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.”
And why was this blessing of wisdom plus riches and honor given to Solomon? It is because he realized that he had no ability in himself to lead Israel. He was focusing on the needs of the people, and in that context, he desperately needed understanding and wisdom from God. In essence, this was a gracious gift from God to a humble servant of the people.
Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore 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? (I Kings 3:7-9)
When we fast forward to I Kings 11 after God enabled Solomon to build the temple and blessed him with great riches and honor, we see Solomon starting to focus more on himself and less on others. As a result, he directly disobeyed God’s clear command about intermarrying with foreign wives. “For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.” (I Kings 11:4) Additionally, God raised up adversaries, and then, the kingdom was split, all because of selfishness and disobedience after great blessings.
May we each consider the heavy cost of disobedience, which turns blessings into curses. Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15)