Grace

Solomon, having been made King, was told by God to ask for anything and it would be given to him. Solomon asked for wisdom, wisdom to rule his people justly. This pleased God. The Lord said "Since you have asked
for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked
for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering
justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and
discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you,
nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not
asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will
have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my
statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long
life."

True to his word, Solomon was sought after by Kings and rulers far and wide for his wisdom. His riches were beyond measure. He had knowledge and wrote of plant life and insects. His knowledge was
unequaled. Yet, with all of this, he still fell from Gods favor. He
still turned to sin and forgot the ways of God.

This is a prime example of why we need Jesus in our lives. No matter how wise we are, how knowledgeable, how rich or how much others hold us in honor, we
will always be prone to sin, "for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God" . Jesus, born without sin became our sin so that he may
die in our place. The innocent for the guilty, so that by him and
through him, we may be saved and forgiven.

How many people do you know that would take the blame for something you did when the result would be loss of money or freedom or even loss of face. The Lord
took the blame knowing full well that the result would be pain and
suffering and the separation from the love of God for the time on the
cross. Because he was willing to pay this price he was given the freedom
and power to lay down his life and to pick it back up again to the
Glory of Heaven to be the one worthy of honor.