Solomon's SecretsPrimjer

ABOUT DAILY NEEDS—THINK AHEAD

Most of us have gotten ourselves in trouble at some point by managing our finances poorly. We either overspent or failed to plan for unforeseen expenses.

In 1 Kings 4, we read that there was no financial hardship during the period of King Solomon’s reign. “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” (1 Kings 4:20, NLT). What an amazing time it must have been!

We often believe that our troubles would all disappear if only we had more—more money, more time, more choices. But when we look at the lives of prosperous people in society, we quickly realize that their success is due to proper planning and management, not the number of resources that they have. It was no different at the time of King Solomon’s great prosperity. The daily food requirements of the palace were calculated in great detail (1 Kings 4:22-23). Each family had a garden that provided fruit for their daily needs (v.25). District governors were assigned one month per year when they were responsible to replenish the palace stock (v.27). Solomon’s kingdom was a well-managed system.

In the New Testament, we are often urged not to worry about the future (Matthew 6; Luke 12). But I do not believe it means that we should not plan wisely. In Luke 14, Jesus affirms the importance of good planning and common sense in our daily dealings. He uses the example of both builders and kings calculating the costs of their projects before starting them.

Planning is not the same as worrying. In fact, in Matthew 25, Jesus described the bridesmaids who did not plan for an unforeseen waiting time as foolish. The worrying started when the bridesmaids saw that they did not plan properly. God is certainly not against planning. But He does want us to trust Him with our plans. “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3, NLT). And those actions most likely involve some hard work!

Do you struggle to make ends meet due to poor planning? Do you sometimes confuse God’s desire for us to live worry-free with not managing your resources properly?

Let us follow the example of King Solomon by managing our finances and resources according to God’s wisdom. Let us uncomplicate our lives by planning while trusting God for guidance. ”If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (James 1:5, NLT).

“A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense” (Proverbs 12:11, NLT).