1 Kings 10

 “The Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon.” We cannot be sure where Sheba is, but we see in this royal person another representative from the nations of the world, like Hiram of Tyre, but this time from further away. The word of Solomon's glory and wisdom reached other lands and drew people to Jerusalem.

What she experienced in person did not disappoint her. In fact, the truth about Solomon was even greater than what had been reported to her, and she blessed Solomon's God. She sealed her visit to the king with great gifts in his honor.

Hiram recognized the glory of Solomon from the north. The queen of Sheba came from the south. Yet the gifts of these two royal persons were such a small taste of the glory that would come to Jesus from afar when people from every tribe and tongue and nation would dedicate their lives to Him.

Solomon not only received gifts from the queen. He also gave gifts to her of all that she desired. But Christ, after ascending to the Jerusalem that is above, has given greater gifts to the church than could ever have been given by any rulers of the earth. We have the Spirit of heavenly wisdom in us by the gift of our great King.

The queen's gift to Solomon was very substantial, but it could not compare with the great wealth of Solomon. Intriguing gifts from far off lands were coming to the Lord's anointed king.

Though Solomon “excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom,” we have a far wiser and more glorious king in Jesus Christ. He came to earth with the clarity of heaven regarding what had the greatest potential for amazing worth. He had the wisdom to see the value that had been built into humanity, created in the image of God, and redeemed by the precious love of heaven's King.

Your life is of more worth to Him than much gold. Through His apostle, we have been told that the glorified church will be a rich inheritance for our Savior, who gave His own blood for our redemption. May God grant us the wisdom that we need from on high to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ according to the glorious worth that He has set upon us.