In these verses, King David is giving advice to his son, Solomon. There are a lot of layers going on here. Father to son. King to prince. Ruler to heir. Disciple to disciple.
David is described as “a man after God’s own heart” and Solomon will one day be renowned for his wisdom.
These verses stand at the crossroads between one man’s legacy and another’s.
If we are not careful, we read these words of advice and think David is telling his son how to achieve material wealth, sure circumstances, and easy comfort. Because that is how the world defines success.
But we know Solomon did not buy into that false definition. When God grants Solomon the proverbial “one wish for anything you want”, Solomon chooses wisdom. He does not ask for money or power. He asks for wisdom, for a godly perspective.
These men of faith understand what it means to truly be successful. That a life of faith and obedience is the true path to discovering purpose. By following their lead, we too can experience a life of true success, a legacy of purpose and participation in The Kingdom of God.