말보다 말씀! 빚보다 빛!

[Key Verse] The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! (1 Kings 3:10-12)

[Our Story] There’s a family comedy movie called Blank Check. It’s been a long time since I watched it, but I remember enjoying it. The story is about a kid named Preston. He’s ignored by his family, bullied at school, and doesn’t even have enough money to go on amusement park rides. On his birthday, he gets a gift—his grandmother gives him a blank check. But his dad, being strict, only writes in 11 dollars for him. Then, by a crazy twist of fate, Preston gets another blank check. A guy trying to launder money accidentally hits him with his car. When he sees a police car nearby, he panics and runs off, leaving Preston with the check—unsigned. Preston does the unthinkable: he writes “One million” on it and cashes it in. From there, things spiral into all kinds of unbelievable but fun adventures. The movie was full of silly moments, but it sparked my imagination. I remember thinking, Wouldn’t it be amazing to get a blank check like that? I even made a list of how much I would write on it and how I’d spend the money. It was a totally unrealistic scenario, but honestly, kind of fun to dream about. At the same time, I had a moment of panic—what if someone actually saw my list? That would’ve been embarrassing! 

[https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/13962-blank-check?language=ko-KR]     

[Bible Story] 1 Kings 1–4 tells the story of Solomon’s blank check. As King David grew old and was nearing the end of his life, a power struggle arose over his successor (1 Kings 1). Since David was no longer able to rule effectively, his son Adonijah attempted to seize the throne. However, with the intervention of the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba, Adonijah’s plot failed. David officially appointed Solomon as his successor, and Zadok and Nathan anointed him as king. Adonijah’s supporters scattered, and the power struggle came to an end. Before passing away, David gave Solomon his final instructions (1 Kings 2). He urged him to be strong and obey God’s commands. He also instructed Solomon to deal with potential threats to the kingdom, including Joab and Shimei. After ascending to the throne, Solomon replaced General Joab with Benaiah and the priest Abiathar with Zadok, ensuring a stable transition of power. Solomon demonstrated his love for God by worshiping Him wholeheartedly. In response, God presented Solomon with a blank check (1 Kings 3). God offered to give him anything he desired. Instead of asking for wealth, long life, or revenge against his enemies, Solomon asked for wisdom. He understood that Israel was not his kingdom but God’s, and therefore, he needed divine wisdom to govern it. Pleased with his request, God granted Solomon not only wisdom but also wealth and honor. Solomon used this divine blank check to build and govern God’s kingdom. With God-given wisdom, he established a well-structured administrative system, bringing Israel peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4). The result of using God’s blank check for His kingdom was a time of stability, growth, and blessing.

[Your Story] If you received a blank check, how much would you write on it? And if you received that amount, how would you spend it? That list could reflect the priorities of your life. It may reveal the values that unknowingly shape your life. If God gave you a blank check and asked you to use it for spiritual growth, how would you spend it? That list could also serve as a key indicator of your spiritual thirst. Like Solomon, I hope that you live for God’s kingdom rather than for your own wealth and honor. "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:31-33)

Copyrightⓒ 2025 by Hyung Joong Kim