在所羅門王英明的領導之下，國家的版圖已拓展到大衛時代的五倍了！由於鄰國紛紛進貢，國家的財富極其豐盛，空前未有。然而，國家儘管富強，靈性衰微的種子卻已埋下，因為所羅門王竉愛異族女子，三宮六院裡住滿數百嬪妃，女色使他的心逐漸遠離上帝，最後竟招致帝國分裂。

        找一支手電筒、一張錫箔紙及一張黑紙。在一個黑的房間裡，用手電筒照著錫箔紙，再照黑紙，看看那一張比較亮？是吸收光線的黑紙，或反射光線的錫箔紙？
        示巴女王聽說所羅門王的財富及智慧，想親自目睹，以證明傳聞是否屬實，及至見了，不禁讚佩道：「耶和華你的上帝是應當稱頌的；祂喜悅你，使你坐在以色列的國位，因為祂永遠愛以色列，所以立你做王使你秉行公義。」(10：9)所羅門王成為上帝榮耀的反射，人們一旦見他的睿智，就把榮耀歸給萬王之王！
        今天你不妨將錫箔紙及黑紙帶在身邊，常問自己是屬於那一類？默想馬太福音五章十六節的經文，想想看，你將如何反射(而非吸收)上帝的榮光。

認識「他連得」
        雖然舊約貨幣的實際重量我們並不知道，但一「他連得」約75.6磅重，若黃金價以每盎司475美元計，在十章十四節所提到的黃金數量，總值約是380,000,000美元。

一個謙虛被主使用的恩賜，勝過一個閒置不用的天才。

English

        Under Solomon's able leadership, the nation's boundaries expand to five times the area ruled by David. Financially, Solomon enjoys unparalleled prosperity as tribute from neighboring nations flows into the national treasury. But even as the nation prospers, the seeds of spiritual decay are being sown. Solomon's passion for pagan women, of whom he takes hundreds to be his wives and concubines, turns his heart from the God of heaven to the gods of men. Result: God tears most of the kingdom away from Solomon's son.

        Find a flashlight, some aluminum foil, and a piece of black paper. Take them into a dark room. Lay a piece of foil on the paper and shine the flashlight on it. Then move the beam of light so that it hits the paper but not the foil. Which is brighter: light hilling the paper (and being absorbed) or light hitting the foil (and being reflected)?
        When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's vast wealth and wisdom, she had to learn firsthand if the reports were true. Notice what she concluded; "Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee ... because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king" (10:9). Rather than absorbing the glory for himself, Solomon had become a reflector of God's glory. When others saw the king's greatness, they gave glory not to the king but to the King of Kings!
        Tear off small pieces of the black paper and the aluminum foil and carry them with you today. Ask yourself frequently which one represents your life at that time. Meditate on Matthew 5:16 throughout the day, looking for creative ways to reflect, rather than absorb, the glory of God.

Developing Your Talent for Talents —
        Though the precise weight (and therefore the value) of Old Testament monetary measures is unknown, the talent was approximately 75.6 pounds, the shekel about .403 ounces, and the pound about 1.25 pounds. Using these numbers and a gold price of $370 per ounce, the total value of the gold mentioned in 10:14 was about $298 million!

A humble talent that is used is worth more than one of a genius that is idle.