Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 9, No. 22
“When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.” (2 Chron. 9:1-2 NET)
What made the Queen of Sheba leave her country to come to Solomon? It was the news she had heard about him. She had heard that Solomon was a wise king, wiser than all the other wise men of his time. And how would she know whether what she had heard was true? It was by coming to challenge his wisdom and see if he would live up to the reputation he had among many at the time.
Now, did Solomon live up to the reputation he had among the people of that time? He did. As we see in our opening text, there was no question the Queen of Sheba asked him that was too difficult or complex for him to answer. He answered all her questions. Look at how her reaction is reported in the Bible:
“She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true! I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me.”” (2 Chron. 9:5-6 NET)
Did you see that? Solomon did not fail the test of reputation given to him by that woman. In fact, he surpassed her expectations. Why was that so? It was so because he was not living a lie. Solomon was not trying to act wise or to prove himself wiser than others. He was actually extremely wise. So he naturally and consistently said wise things and did wise things. Anyone who had interacted with him was bound to report him as an unusually wise person.
Also, Solomon did not fail that woman’s test of reputation because he would not encourage anybody to flatter him or to feed people propaganda about him. Therefore, most of those who spoke of his wisdom and greatness understated things. That was why the Queen of Sheba was even more surprised when she came to challenge him with difficult questions.
What lessons, then, are there in all this for us? It is that whatever reputation we desire to have, or are laboring to have, among people will surely be challenged at one point or another. And it may not be challenged by those we expect or at the time we expect. Will it, then, prove to be true or false?
Well, that will depend on whether we have been true in the way we live or whether we have been living a lie. If we have been true in the way we live, and have not been painting a false image of ourselves for the world, we will be free to be ourselves, regardless of whom we may be relating to. But if we have been living a lie, the true test of our reputation will come from strangers. They are the ones who will expose us as frauds when we are least prepared.
So, if you want to maintain a good reputation, you had better not be living a lie. Instead, like Solomon, be consistently true to your character, regardless of whom you are relating to. That way, wherever your name is mentioned, it is the same thing everyone will be saying about you.
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