1 Kings 10:14

1 Kings 10:14 says, Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, Solomon had a large amount of gold coming to him in a year.  The kingdom was prospering under his rule.  Of course, we don't serve God for earthly riches, so we can never judge the faith of a person based on riches.  We will likely be more like Paul than Solomon, working and striving for a living, instead of living with riches.  Verse fifteen adds, Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.  Solomon also had ships that were trading with all the countries around him instead of being at war with them.  At times, we as Christians may live at peace with those who do not accept God as the only God, and we may even trade with them, but spiritually, we will always be at war with them.  Verse sixteen continues, And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.  Solomon used the gold to make ornamental armament according to Matthew Henry, but he didn't just hoard it.  We need to use the gifts that God blesses us with today, and not just for ornamental reasons.  Verse seventeen concludes, And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.  He kept some of these shields in his house in Lebanon, which would imply that they were not in use every day but were readily available.  Some days, we may not use ever gift that God has given us, but they must be readily available even if we don't.  The spiritual gifts of God should never be hoarded unused.  Verse eighteen states, Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.  I believe that the throne was certainly more for show than for a functional purpose.  We as followers of Christ today can be guilty of doing things that are more for show than for functional purposes in church buildings and in our own homes.  I believe that we bring more glory to God by using the things that He blesses us with to reach out to the lost world than we do by building buildings that are ornate just for show.  Verse nineteen adds, The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.  Verse twenty continues, And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.  These two verses tell us more about the luxury of the throne of Solomon.  We need the world today to see our good works in helping others more than our ornate church building or lifestyle I believe.