If you could ask for whatever you want (knowing it would be given to you), what would you ask
for? In other words, if God appeared to you and said that you could have one request, a blank check if you will, and He’d give you whatever you requested, what would it be?
When asked such a question, the first thing that enters ours minds reveals our priorities. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Here are a few scriptural examples of when this actually took place. As we look at these examples it will give us an idea of where our motives and priorities are and where they should be.
Praying for understanding and wisdom (1 Kings 3:3-5; 9-13). Solomon had just recently became king, he walked in the statutes of his father David, he went to Gibeon and there offered a thousand burnt offerings. After offering sacrifices, God appeared to him in a dream by night and said, “Ask! What shall I give you” (1 Kings 3:5 NKJV)? Let me preempt this by saying, you will never have God say this to you until there has first been a sacrifice. Sacrifice preceded God saying this to Solomon.
Solomon’s response to the Lord was this, “Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9 NKJV). Solomon understood the greatness of the task that was before him. As a result, he did not ask for riches, glory or honor. This pleased the Lord because of his request, his priorities and motive. God responded 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” (1 Kings 3:11-13 NKJV).
God encourages us to ask and seek for the same. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally…and it shall be given him” (James 1:5 KJV). This wisdom has been provided us in the sacrifice of Christ. “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV). Solomon admonishes us to seek after wisdom more than silver and gold. “For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold” (Proverbs 3:14 NLT). “Incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 3:2-5 NKJV). “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver” (Proverbs 16:16 NIV).
What are our motives? What would we ask for if God appeared to us saying we could have whatever we desired? Jesus made it clear that if we sought the right thing everything else we needed would be given us (Matthew 6:33). Our priorities and motives are everything. “You lust and do not have…You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3 NASB). I am not saying we should torture ourselves over if we have correct motives or not. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you proper motives in everything and to reveal to you where your priorities or motives may be amiss and change them. Then proceed forward seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
