THE BLANK CHECK

JUST THINKING  

If you are given a blank check to ask for anything, what would you ask for?  This question can bring out the greed of many of us or the true state of our hearts. I have been told of people who were taken out on a date and they ended up ordering more than the person who took them out could afford after the person in question told them to order for anything they wanted to eat.
Where has decency or restraint gone to?
Proverbs 23:1-3 NLT says, “While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you".
Likewise, we have abused the blank checks given to us by God and people ignorantly or deliberately at various times. In the bible, Herod was pleased by his daughter’s dance performance and he told her, “Ask me for anything you like, the king said to the girl, and I will give it to you. He even vowed I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”
What she asked for was ridiculous. She asked for the head of John the Baptist as advised by Herodias, her mother. This is what many of us would do when given such an opportunity. We may ask for the death of others or our enemies, their jobs or properties, wish them bad, their wealth, their spouse, long life and so on.
However, I love what King Solomon asked for when God gave him the opportunity by asking him “Ask! What shall I give you?” In 1kings 3:5, his response to God was unlike what most of us would ask for when given such opportunity.

1 kings 3: 9 says,” Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern these great people of yours?”
In other words, King Solomon asked for wisdom to lead and govern. His request pleased God because he asked for wisdom instead of asking for a long life or wealth or the death of his enemies. God was amazed at his request and He gave him Wisdom and other things he did not ask for. King Solomon’s response should be a pointer to what we should ask for when given an opportunity. As Christians, we have been given access into God’s presence (open check) because of Jesus Christ but our request will determine if we will get it or not because some people will ask amiss.