How can we apply the Queen's example to our spiritual journey today? The Setting in Luke 11:31 “The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and now One greater than Solomon is here.” Jesus holds up the Queen of Sheba as a rebuke and an invitation—her eagerness for Solomon’s wisdom models the attitude He wants toward His own, far greater wisdom. Eager Pursuit of Truth • 1 Kings 10:1 says the queen came “to test him with hard questions.” • Application for us: – Refuse a casual, second-hand faith. Pursue Christ’s words firsthand in Scripture. – Treat lingering doubts or “hard questions” as fuel to search the Word more deeply (Jeremiah 29:13). – Make room in the schedule—study times, church gatherings, podcasts, reading plans—where questions can meet answers. Crossing Every Barrier • She traveled roughly 1,200 miles through desert terrain. • Application for us: – Push past convenience. Early alarms, screens silenced, commitments rearranged—worth it to meet with Jesus. – Break cultural, relational, or intellectual barriers that keep you from Him (Luke 11:9-10). – Let no voice whisper “too far” when the Spirit calls “come.” Offering Costly Gifts • Sheba’s caravans carried “spices in great abundance, as well as gold and precious stones” (1 Kings 10:2,10). • Application for us: – Present bodies, talents, finances, influence—everything—as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). – Give generously to kingdom causes; your giving testifies that Christ is greater than treasure (2 Corinthians 9:7-8). – Worship that costs nothing changes nothing; costly surrender shapes the heart. Humble Listening and Honest Dialogue • “Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king” (1 Kings 10:3). • Application for us: – Approach Scripture and sound teachers with humility, ready to be corrected (Psalm 25:9). – Expect Christ’s wisdom to address every arena—relationships, work, ethics, hopes. – Resist selective hearing; let the whole counsel of God confront assumptions (2 Timothy 3:16-17). A Response of Praise and Witness • She declared, “Blessed be the LORD your God” (1 Kings 10:9). • Application for us: – Let encounters with Jesus overflow in worship—privately and publicly (Psalm 34:1-3). – Share discoveries with family, friends, small group; testimony multiplies faith (Revelation 12:11). – Praise anchors truth in the heart and displays it to the world. Receiving Far Greater Wisdom • Solomon’s brilliance pointed to Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). • Application for us: – When Scripture speaks, receive it as the very voice of the risen Lord (John 6:68). – Value Christ’s words above media, scholars, trends; He outranks them all (Hebrews 1:1-2). – Daily prayer: “Lord, teach me Your ways, for You are greater than Solomon” (Psalm 86:11). Living Lessons Summarized • Seek: pursue Jesus boldly, questions in hand. • Sacrifice: let worship cost you something tangible. • Submit: accept His answers, even when they stretch you. • Share: turn gained wisdom into praise and witness. The Queen traveled for earthly wisdom and found Yahweh’s glory. We have the Savior present by His Spirit and the completed Word in our hands. Let her zeal awaken ours—and let no distance, cost, or question keep us from the One “greater than Solomon.” |
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