Limitless God

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” (1 Kings 3:5 ESV)

Can you just imagine God asking you that? This is the kind of moment every kid dreams of—and the reason their hearts are captured by stories like Aladdin that speak of genies and wishes. 

In a way, though, I feel that God has offered this to us. The sacrifice of Jesus is, after all, a giving of Himself to the world. The infinite God stoops down and offers Himself to mankind—to access, to receive from, to know, and to share in—even to the sharing of His own glory (John 17:22) that He once said is shared with no other (Isaiah 42:8). Wow!  

Suddenly, we are given the chance to step out into the vast ocean of God’s limitless nature, starting a journey that will never end—even when all time has faded and eternity stretches on beyond the horizon. And this is the God that Solomon knew—the God that he loved. (1 Kings 3:3) 

When the Lord spoke to Solomon, his reply was interesting. After praising God for a while first, he said, “I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people.” (1 Kings 3:7-9) 

Solomon recognized his place before the Almighty, and humility attracts holiness. What’s more, when given the chance to have anything, he made a selfless ask: wisdom to lead God’s people. Would you do the same? I don’t believe I would. 

In fact, I didn’t. When God first came to me in a way I understood, and I realized He was willing to trade His life for mine, instead of embracing Him, I asked Him to open His hand. I asked Him for purpose—for me—so I could feel valuable after a lifetime of not feeling that. 

And He gave it to me. That’s the thing. He isn’t stingy. The Word says, “These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. … when you open your hand, they are filled with good things,” (Psalm 104:27-28). God opens His hand, and all things live by the grace that overflows. And Jesus made it clear: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

God gave me what I asked for—and a lot more besides, just as He did for Solomon, offering wisdom as well as wealth and power—but He also gave me Himself. And ever since that day, He’s spent my life calling me back to Himself, to see just how much more valuable His fellowship is than the things He can give me. As greater levels of responsibility, knowledge, influence, and wealth have come to me and my heart has struggled to rightly value them, God has remained faithfully there, inviting me to embrace infinity instead. 

So, will you? Will you trust that God is limitless and can give you anything—while turning back to Him to love Him first as your one true reward, your inheritance? Solomon eventually betrayed the God he loved as he came to value his wisdom and the wealth God gave him more than God’s fellowship, and he suffered loss. But we have a Savior to cover our mistakes, and He offers the world. Take His hand today! 

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.