King Solomon now ruled over all Israel, The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink. Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime. The daily food requirements for Solomon’s palace were 150 bushels of choice flour and 300 bushels of meal; also 10 oxen from the fattening pens, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, and choice poultry. Solomon’s dominion extended over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. And there was peace on all his borders. During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. And from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, each family had its own home and garden. Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses, and he had 12,000 horses. The district governors faithfully provided food for King Solomon and his court; each made sure nothing was lacking during the month assigned to him. They also brought the necessary barley and straw for the royal horses in the stables. God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.
1 Kings 4:1,20-34

Dear God, it’s easy in moments like this to forget all of the hard work that went into getting Israel to this place. Solomon was standing on the shoulders of what You started through Abraham and continued through to Moses and Joshua and all of the way until Solomon’s father, David. A lot of people gave and sacrificed a lot for this wealth. They worshipped you. Sometimes that failed you. I wonder to what extent Solomon appreciates the table that had been set for him.

As for me, I know you have set the table before me through the work of others. In my professional life, it’s obvious. There were a lot of people who came before me at work upon whose shoulders I stand. They had vision. The gave great personal sacrifices. They labored. They prayed and worshipped. The success we are experiencing now is certainly built upon the foundation they laid.

Then there’s my personal life. My parents sacrificed to do the best they could. At any point along the way they could have made decisions that would have greatly changed how I developed as a person. And then there are the recognitions we make for those who founded our country, served it, even unto death, and continue to serve as soldiers or first responders. So many shoulders. So much sacrifice. We now live in a country that could be described like Solomon’s kingdom. Do we really appreciate what it took to get us here? Do we worship you like we should?

Father, thank you. Help me to be a good steward of my personal life, the role you have given me in our community, and the work you have given me professionally. Help me to be a good steward of my wife and adult children. Help me to be the brother and son you need me to be. Let my motivation be love for you and gratitude for what you and so many have done to prepare the table before me.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen