Bringing Our Best to the King's Table
2 Chronicles 9:9
And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.
Hear this; King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in both riches and wisdom (2 Chron. 9:22), and yet the queen of Sheba had spices so rare, that nothing like them could be found anywhere else in the world. Her spices were her unique contribution to King Solomon and his kingdom. I find this very encouraging for those of us who look at Christ’s Kingdom, and wonder, “What can I possibly give to Christ, in comparison to what He already owns, and what He has already given?”
The truth is, we each have our own uniqueness to contribute to Christ and His Kingdom. Furthermore, although the queen of Sheba knew of King Solomon’s great wealth, this did not stop her from bringing him gifts, as meager as they may have been in comparison. Her intent was to learn of his wisdom, and realized that if she was going to learn of him, then she would need to be willing to pay a price to do so.
So many today simply want to visit King Jesus to make a withdrawal from His vast wealth and wisdom, and yet are unwilling to pay the price of sacrifice and commitment to His person and His Kingdom. We know that Christ freely gives, but yet we are to receive of Him sacrificially. Let me explain; one cannot receive of Christ without picking up the responsibility that is associated with that free gift. This is our sacrifice to Christ; to accept the ramifications of receiving His free gift.
Just as Peter, who knew that serving Christ would cost him his life, and yet he did it anyway, even so for us to truly follow Christ and serve His Kingdom, is going to cost us a cross to bear. The queen of Sheba teaches us a valuable lesson; when we approach Christ the King, we are always to do so with an offering to bring, not as payment for His services (we cannot afford Him, that’s why He gives), but to illustrate our gratitude and contribute to His Kingdom.
What better way for the queen of Sheba to be remembered, than to be thought of every time King Solomon sat down to eat. And who knows but what spices YOU bring to the King’s table may leave a good taste in His mouth, by which He thinks of you!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.
Hear this; King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in both riches and wisdom (2 Chron. 9:22), and yet the queen of Sheba had spices so rare, that nothing like them could be found anywhere else in the world. Her spices were her unique contribution to King Solomon and his kingdom. I find this very encouraging for those of us who look at Christ’s Kingdom, and wonder, “What can I possibly give to Christ, in comparison to what He already owns, and what He has already given?”
The truth is, we each have our own uniqueness to contribute to Christ and His Kingdom. Furthermore, although the queen of Sheba knew of King Solomon’s great wealth, this did not stop her from bringing him gifts, as meager as they may have been in comparison. Her intent was to learn of his wisdom, and realized that if she was going to learn of him, then she would need to be willing to pay a price to do so.
So many today simply want to visit King Jesus to make a withdrawal from His vast wealth and wisdom, and yet are unwilling to pay the price of sacrifice and commitment to His person and His Kingdom. We know that Christ freely gives, but yet we are to receive of Him sacrificially. Let me explain; one cannot receive of Christ without picking up the responsibility that is associated with that free gift. This is our sacrifice to Christ; to accept the ramifications of receiving His free gift.
Just as Peter, who knew that serving Christ would cost him his life, and yet he did it anyway, even so for us to truly follow Christ and serve His Kingdom, is going to cost us a cross to bear. The queen of Sheba teaches us a valuable lesson; when we approach Christ the King, we are always to do so with an offering to bring, not as payment for His services (we cannot afford Him, that’s why He gives), but to illustrate our gratitude and contribute to His Kingdom.
What better way for the queen of Sheba to be remembered, than to be thought of every time King Solomon sat down to eat. And who knows but what spices YOU bring to the King’s table may leave a good taste in His mouth, by which He thinks of you!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill