23King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
I am convinced that King Solomon was a Capitalist. He accumulated wealth and goods, bought and sold, traded and raised the standard of living for himself and his people. He liked the finest things in life. He used his wealth to impress those who would come to visit him. He built buildings for the purpose of impressing others with his greatness. I can imagine him bringing out the shields of gold and placing them so that the sun hit them and reflected its brightness. What a sight that would have been, 500 gold shields lined up reflecting the sun’s light. Maybe it was the first solar array! Solomon is a great contrast with his father, the shepherd boy slinging stones and killing a giant, fleeing and hiding from his enemies. Just one generation of the Lord’s blessing. Of course, this is not the norm. We cannot expect this kind of wealth in our lives, nor should we desire it. As we read about Solomon, we read of a life of compromises, little small compromises. I would rather have a life of obedience than a life of luxury. It is hard enough with the stuff I already have to keep close to the Lord. It is easy to trust in my paycheck, rather than trusting in Him. I go to the doctors for healing. I check my checking account balance to see if I can make a purchase. I google a topic when I want knowledge rather than searching the Scriptures. Have I become so rich already that I don’t need the Lord?