What do you want out of Life?

If God asked you, “Ask what I shall give to you.” What would you answer him? Would you ask for a long life, a healthy life or great riches? How about a great partner to share your long healthy rich life? However, you only get one wish. Would you ask something for yourself or for someone else? You may say, “You’ve got to be kidding. I can ask for whatever I want, and you want me to give it away to someone else. This is my one chance in life to get whatever I want.” This is indeed the big question; would you ask for someone else’s benefit. What if your neighbor’s spouse was dying from cancer? Would you ask for the cancer to disappear? What would you ask for? You only have one request!
This was the question God put to King Solomon in ancient times. Solomon answered, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). He did not ask for a long life or great riches. He asked for wisdom to be a great king for the people’s welfare. He wanted to be a just and caring king. His answer pleased the Lord, and his request was granted. Solomon is recorded in history as being the wisest person that ever lived. He did not ask for honor, but centuries later people still know of his great achievements and his wise sayings in the Book of Proverbs.
Now, we know that God will not ask us this question, but we can ask ourselves, “What will I do with my life?” You do have a choice here. You only have one life to live. Will you use it for your own good, or will you use it to serve others. Are you willing to stand in God’s place and ask people, “What can I do for you?” How can I help?
One of the writers of the Bible wrote, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Dear ones, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18). What kind of person does God ask us to be? It is not easy to give of ourselves, and to think about others. We are lured and tempted in life to fulfill our own needs and desires. But, what kind of life pleases God? It pleases him when we focus on the needs of others, and ask him to help them. Selfish people do not please God!