I love a good burger and fries.
For my international viewers, I’m sure you will laugh at that since I’m an American,
and so often, we’re known for our love of fast food.
And oftentimes, our Southern accents which kind of turn Texan when you make fun of us,
but we'll talk about that another time!
But I’m not talking about a fast-food burger.
There is a time and a place for a fast food burger….
And by the way, my preference is a Wendy’s Big Bacon Classic with ketchup, mayo, and
pickles only, please!
No.
I’m referring to my love for a REAL, home-made American hamburger… with hand-crafted patties
that come from the grocery store, seasoned with Tex-Joy, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce,
grilled over an open flame, with fresh-sliced juicy red tomato, crisp iceberg lettuce, melted
cheddar cheese, and all of the fixings.
Put a side of mac and cheese and pour me a fresh Coca-Cola over ice and you have got
yourself one happy woman!
There’s a difference, right?
Between a fast-food burger and that delicious gastro delicacy that I just described to you.
You’ll find a difference in flavor, freshness, experience, and most of all, its cost.
A Wendy’s burger will cost me about $6.
But my gourmet burger will cost more in both time and money.
I've got to make the grocery list, go to the store, buy the ingredients, form the patties
up, grill them, slice the veggies, and make the sides.
In both time and money, we’re looking at about a $40 investment or more… just for
a homemade hamburger.
Is it worth it, though?
Some people would say no.
It would just be way more convenient to go to the drive-thru.
But my friend Shirley Weaver would say this: “The price we pay reveals the value we see,
and the value we place on something determines the priority that we give it.”
What determines the price you’ll pay for the priorities in your life?
Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba, who inherited the throne after his father’s
death.
In a dream, Solomon asked God for wisdom above all other things, and God granted him his
request.
Solomon became known for his vast wisdom amongst all of the kings of the world, but there was
one world leader in particular who was most intrigued by his knowledge: The Queen of Sheba.
Sheba traveled with an entourage from Ethiopia to Jerusalem - a distance of about 2800 miles
- just to meet Solomon and forge a bond between kingdoms, but most importantly to her personally,
to hear his wisdom.
1 Kings 10:1-12: When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, which brought honor to
the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.
She arrived in Jerusalem with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels
loaded with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels.
When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.
Solomon had answers for all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain
to her.
When the queen of Sheba realized how very wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace
he had built, she was overwhelmed.
She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their
splendid clothing, the cup-bearers, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple
of the Lord.
-- Isn’t it such a female quality to recognize this man’s home decor and the organization
and attire of his servants.
I love that!
She exclaimed to the king, “Everything I heard in my country about your achievements
and wisdom is true!
I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes.
In fact, I had not heard the half of it!
Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told.
How happy your people must be!
What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom!
Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel.
Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with
justice and righteousness.”
Then she gave the king a gift of 9,000 pounds of gold, great quantities of spices, and precious
jewels.
Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
(In addition, Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir, and they also brought rich cargoes
of red sandalwood and precious jewels.
The king used the sandalwood to make railings for the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace,
and to construct lyres and harps for the musicians.
Never before or since has there been such a supply of sandalwood.)
Sheba applied the rule of value to her meeting with Solomon.
She sacrificed time, talent, and treasure to obtain wisdom that could only come from
the Lord of Hosts.
Sheba came to Jerusalem armed with these gifts - personal sacrifices - which she could have
gifted Solomon as soon as she arrived.
If she was really visiting just to forge a political bond, the relational element of
her trip - the conversations that she had with Solomon, the questions she presented
him, and his answers to every one of her inquiries, could have been ignored.
Her wealth would have satisfied the partnership between kingdoms.
But instead, she waited and gave the gifts as an offering of great value and thanks.
When we appreciate what God has done for us, and recognize His hand in our lives, our sacrifice
of time, talent, and treasure becomes a fragrant offering to the throne of God.
These come at a cost to us - but instead of being painful or difficult to release, we
can release them with a heart of Thanksgiving to God.
Nothing is more beautiful to the Father than when His kids share their treasures with Him.
It reminds me of when the girls were really little, and they would toddle over to me and
place a teacup filled with water into my hands.
I gifted them with the tea set.
It came from my hand and my money.
It filled me with pleasure to watch them play with it and make believe, but when they brought
the cup to me to be a part of their imagination, my heart brimmed over in love towards them.
That’s the way God feels about us when we invite Him into our world.
When we take the gifts He’s given to us, and turn around and offer them back to Him
with a heart of Thanksgiving.
Sometimes, it can feel like a difficult thing to do in our flesh.
It feels like a sacrifice.
It doesn’t always FEEL good.
But once we recognize and understand that He is the source of all of the gifts in our
lives, we don’t feel like we have to hoard it anymore.
It becomes freeing.
Everything in your life has a value that YOU give it.
Depending on the condition of your heart, the price may be correct or incorrect.
To the Jewish leaders of Israel, Jesus was only worth 30 pieces of silver.
To you and I, He is EVERYTHING.
Allow God to reveal the value you place on the important things in your life.
Let Him course-correct you on the issues that need re-evaluating.
He will do this gently with a Father’s touch.
Let me pray for you today.
Father, I ask that You would touch the lives of the viewers watching this video.
I pray that You would reveal to them the areas of their lives that need that gentle course
correction.
Allow them to see the price that they place on the most important things in their lives
and turn that around, and allow them to offer it back to You in loving sacrifice, that Your
hand would bless it and multiply it in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,
amen.
Thank you for joining me today.
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