He  dripped of money to the point that people could almost smell it on him. In today’s terms, the man owned more than the King of Geeks, the creator of the most successful software company. Richer than a 7-layer chocolate Torte, the king’s palace glistened with gold, gems and more bling than a diva decorated with diamonds.

Not only that, but the leader had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Talk about a hurricane of hormones! Can you imagine the squabbles and PMS storms brewing in the palace? I’m surprised the drama didn’t drive him back to live with his mama.

Yet Solomon’s illusion of happiness created a dark cloud of discontent.

How could this be? After all, the king had it all. Or did he?

Interestingly, he didn’t set out to acquire wealth. So how did this man of royalty end up with the equivalent of 30 billion dollars?

After a significant sacrifice that warmed God’s heart, God appeared to the king in a dream. “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

Instead of wealth or anything else for himself, Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern his people.

Since God loved his selfless heart, God granted him the wisdom he’d asked for. “And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

The entire garden of promises bloomed in glorious fields of color.

Yet deep within, Solomon remained empty though he possessed hordes of wealth, women, wisdom and wine.

Unbelievable. Or is it?

The innermost parts of our being can’t be filled through and through with stuff. Or with human relationships – as they always fall short.

Solomon built magnificent structures and gardens.  He spared himself nothing.

The thing is, his efforts were mostly about self. Granted, the wisdom he received provided him with superb skill in decision making. This was a great gift.

But to be committed to self is to rob ourselves of the true beauty of life. The purest form of joy is to offer ourselves selflessly, serving as our souls break through in songs of joy in a reflecting God’s grand love offered to us.

All other bursts of radiance result in an empty longing of the soul. ~