Character and Identity

2 Chronicles is an example of the true character of God. Here, He is a gracious, promise-fulfilling provider, but over and over the theme continues to be His call for His people to obey. In the first nine chapters, Solomon sets the tone for his rule as heir to His father David's throne. He desires to rule the land to the best of his abilities, but realizes this will never be enough without God's supernatural touch. He sets the tone from the beginning and offers sacrifice to God, with which God is pleased. His humility is evident, as God proceeds to offer Solomon anything he could possibly ask for, to which Solomon replies, "Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" (v.10, The Message).

As a reward for such a noble request, God not only grants Solomon wisdom, but also riches and fame as a notorious leader. Throughout much of the rest of the book, Solomon proceeds to build God's temple, diligently, with best materials the earth had to offer.

Solomon's gratitude and reverence is one that I can certainly learn from, as a person who is constantly dreaming and seeking opportunity. There are those days I've gone through the process of writing, booking, strategizing, marketing, traveling and more, all for the sake of advancing my ministry, and have certainly neglected the reality that all God wants is a relationship with me. Let's be honest, sometimes the tangible things are the things to which we attach the most value because we feel as though we are controlling them. We thrive on accomplishments, and even the approval of others, but when it comes down to it, these things pale in comparison to a sincere relationship with the Source of our passion! The rest He will take care of, in His own timing, and what He wants is us to love Him, as our Maker. Solomon realizes the responsibility on his shoulders to set a Godly example to his people, as their king, and as a result he asks God to grant him the wisdom to set such an example: an example of a man communing with God.

The other day I was on the plane, and an opportunity arose to share my ministry with those seated next to me. As we were de-boarding the plane, they asked me what I do for a living, and I replied "I'm a rapper." Think about that. "I'm a rapper." I could have replied, "I am an evangelist spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, using hip-hop culture as my tool," but instead I replied the way I did. As a result, I lost my chance! I realized my error and even prayed God would help me catch them at the baggage claim, to resume the conversation, but to my dismay, the moment was gone. I had made the mistake of identifying myself with an earthly title, instead of using my platform to engage someone in a real conversation.

My identity is in Christ, not in my current role as an artist. Our identity is in our Maker, and God merely wants us to be in communion and achieve closeness with Him. He will provide how He sees fit, but we need to follow Solomon's example and honor Him as our first and foremost.