2 Chronicles 9:13

2 Chronicles 9:13 says, Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;  Solomon was bringing in a lot of gold to the kingdom of Israel.  I don't believe that he was just using it for his own personal gain, but for the benefit of all of Israel.  I do know that I believe that if God is blessing us as individuals or as a nation, that we should use the things He blesses us with for the good of the more than just ourselves.  Verse fourteen adds, Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.  People from other countries were bringing gold and silver to Solomon.  Solomon had not defeated them in war, but he ruled with wisdom in a time of peace, and this was all because of the blessing God shed on him.  We need o do our best to live at peace int he world, but I am afraid that we will always at war with Satan and his forces.  We will likely never have the eartly riches that Solomon had either, but we do have God's promise that He will always meet our needs.  Verse fifteen continues, And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.  Verse sixteen concludes, And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.  Solomon made defensive weapons out of gold, but they were stored and not used.  God's gives us all the defensive weapons we need spiritually, and they are even more valuable than weapons made of gold.  They are forged by God's word.  Verse seventeen states, Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.  Solomon made a great throne of ivory overlaid with gold.  As great as Solomon's throne was, it was temporary.  We will never have a throne as followers of Christ, but we worship the One Who sets on the throne forever.  Verse eighteen adds, And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:  This was an elaborate throne, and Solomon had to go up six steps just to sit on it.  There was also a footstool of gold, maybe so people could sit at Solomon's feet.  It seems to me that Solomon went overboard in making his throne.  We do not need to sit ourselves above other people, no matter how rich and powerful we may be, nor do I believe that we need to spend lots of money just to make things look impressive.  Verse nineteen 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.  There were six lions on each side of the throne, plus the two by the stays.  The stays served a purpose, but the lions really didn't.  As Christians, I don't believe we should spend a lot of resources on things that really serve no purpose other than adornment. Verse twenty concludes, And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.  Silver was too cheap for the drinking vessels of Solomon, so they were made of pure gold.  This was about as necessary as gold toilet seats today, and I don't believe God is pleased if we live in opulence while others are starving.