What Else Could She Do?

“King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants” (1 Kings 10:13). Solomon gave the queen everything she wanted—not just his wisdom but also his wealth. He sent her home with the bountiful blessing of his kingdom.

An even greater blessing still awaits her, on the last of all days, when Jesus Christ will come into his everlasting kingdom. Then the queen of Sheba will receive the blessing of eternal life. We know this because Jesus explicitly stated that she would be present at the final judgment, standing with the righteous. . . . He told them, “The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here” (Luke 11:31).

There is a comparison here, and also a warning. King Jesus is greater than King Solomon—infinitely greater. Just as Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she desired, so Jesus has promised to give us whatever we ask in faith. But of course, Jesus has so much to give. In his perfect wisdom and out of his infinite wealth, he is able to give us every blessing in heaven. Therefore we should come to Jesus the way that the queen of Sheba went to Solomon. We should say of Jesus what Sheba said when she met Solomon: “Blessed be the LORD!” (1 Kings 10:9). Even King Solomon was worthy of some recognition. The queen of Sheba proved it by travelling a thousand miles to honor his wisdom and give him her gold. If Solomon was worthy to receive all of that, then Jesus was worthy of even more—more honor, more worship, more treasure.

If we do not give Jesus as much as he deserves, then the queen of Sheba will condemn us at the final judgment. Really, what else could she do? She gave full honor to Solomon, who was not even half the king that Jesus is. So how could she do anything but condemn someone who refuses to honor the wisdom of Jesus Christ, or worship his majesty, or give him the gold that he deserves?

Adapted from King Solomon: The Temptations of Money, Sex, and Power by Philip G. Ryken, pp. 155-156