Story of Solomon. Puppy Love - Wonderful Companions.
Without
question, the greatest story in the Bible of someone who sought after the knowledge and wisdom of God and actually received it was King Solomon in the Old Testament. What happened to this man was just about beyond belief.
When Solomon became King of Israel, he knew he did not have the knowledge and wisdom to properly rule his people. So what did he do? He went direct to God the Father and asked Him for His knowledge and His wisdom to rule the people. He admitted his weakness in this area and was not afraid to press in and start asking God for His knowledge.
So what did God do when he asked Him for His knowledge to help rule his people? God did not meet him halfway - He met him all the way! As you will see in the two verses I will list below - God tells Solomon because he did not ask for long life, riches or the death of his enemies for himself - but just asked for an "understanding heart" to judge his people and help with discerning between good and evil - God tells him that He will give him a "wise and understanding heart."
But then God takes it one more incredible step further. He tells Solomon that the knowledge and wisdom that will be given to him will be like what no man has ever had before him and what no man will ever have after him! In other words - God will make this man the smartest man in God that has ever lived, and that there would never be another man in the course of human history that would ever have the knowledge that he would be given.
Just stop and ponder on what an incredible thing that this was - to have been given so much knowledge and wisdom direct from God Himself - that no man would ever be his equal in this gift!
Then God goes one more extra step in order to put the icing on this man's cake. He then tells Solomon that since he did not ask for riches for himself - but just for the knowledge of God to rule his people - that he will now be given incredible riches and honor to go along with the knowledge and wisdom to rule his people. Then God adds the final touch on the riches and honor he will be given - telling Solomon that there shall never be another king like him all the days of his life and that he will surpass all the kings of the earth in "riches and wisdom." In other words - God ends up making this man the smartest and richest man in all of the earth at the time that he was living!
If Solomon was really not asking God for wealth and riches - but just for the knowledge and wisdom to rule his people - why would God go so overboard in blessing this man with this kind of wealth - especially if he was not asking for it and possibly not even desiring it?
I believe the main reason God rewarded Solomon with this kind of maximum wealth was not only to show him, but
the rest of His people that would come later on, the extreme importance that each and every person seek after the knowledge of God for their own lives. By blessing Solomon with this kind of wealth - God is telling all of us the extreme importance that we seek after Him and His knowledge for our lives.
In other words - seeking after the knowledge of God has to be a major priority in a believer's life. We cannot spiritually grow and develop in the Lord unless we have His knowledge worked into us that will cause this spiritual growth to occur in the first place. And you can't get this knowledge worked into you unless you are first seeking after it!
Seek and then you will find. But the reverse is also true - don't seek, and you will not find. And if you don't find the knowledge of God for your life - then the Holy Spirit will not have anything to work with to start the transformation and sanctification process within you.
Grab a hold of these two verses and the statements that God is making to Solomon - all because he got this ball rolling by simply asking God for His knowledge to help rule his people.
- "Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked for this thing.Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." (1 Kings 3:9-14)
- "So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart." (1 Kings 10:23)
The article was an excerpt from Michael's E-book titled, Seeking After the Knowledge of God You can go to their site and download the book free of charge.
© 2005 by Michael Bradley. All Rights Reserved.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Everybody loves puppies. Who can resist those cute little faces and wet noses? Puppies can be a lot of fun, but they also come with a lot of added responsibility.
More than five million puppies are born every year in the United States. In fact, one in every three families owns one or more dogs. A female dog carries her puppies for a term of approximately 60 days before they are born. Puppies are born blind, deaf, and with very little sense of smell. Their eyes stay closed for about 10-15 days. By four weeks old they have complete vision. A puppy's sense of smell and hearing develops quickly. Puppies have 28 temporary teeth, which start to appear around 3-4 weeks. Their 42 permanent teeth begin to emerge around four months.
Be sure to have plenty of chew toys for your puppy. Puppies need to chew to stimulate the loss of their baby teeth and to help place their permanent teeth.
Puppies like to stay cuddled up close to their mother and siblings to stay warm and feel secure. Because puppies are somewhat dependent on their mother and need to learn to get along with other dogs, they should stay with their mother for at least eight weeks.
A new puppy should be chosen with great care. A new owner must not think only of himself, but also about people around him. A mischievous or noisy puppy can be a great nuisance to neighbors. Most importantly, a new owner must think of the comfort and well being of the puppy. Here are some questions a new owner may want to ask himself. Does the puppy have a clean place to stay and does it need a cage or pen? Is the puppy the right size for the house or apartment where it will live? Will your puppy need more exercise than it can be given? A puppy needs to work off excess energy every day. Do you prefer a playful puppy or a docile one? Will the puppy be easy to keep clean? Will you be able to give him plenty of the right kind of food? Can you afford the veterinary care your new puppy will need? Your puppy will need to receive it's first vaccine at 6-8 weeks, then it will need boosters at 12 and 16 weeks.
Puppies are fun and full of tons of wiggly energy. Enjoy your puppy. Be sure to give your puppy a name befitting of it's personality and call it by name often. Show your commitment to the puppy by bolstering it's self esteem with lots of affection, attention, and rewards. Your puppy is bound to give you years of unconditional love and friendship. Soon you will be calling it "puppy love".
About The Author
Wendy Yeager - http://www.wenmarcorp.com/dogs-go2/puppies.html; mjy222@hotmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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