In the final message of the Three Kings series, Pastor Torry Sheppard closes with the story of Solomon, the king whose reign began with unmatched wisdom and blessing but ended in compromise and sorrow. The sermon, titled “What You Don’t Steward, Sours,” explores the danger of mishandled blessings and the call to use God-given resources, influence, and opportunities for kingdom purposes.
When Winning Isn’t Enough
Pastor Torry begins by naming a universal experience: achieving something you deeply wanted—only to discover it doesn’t fulfill you. Whether it’s a promotion, a major purchase, or even success itself, many of us know the strange letdown of getting what we wanted and still feeling empty. He illustrates this through golfer Scottie Scheffler’s candid admission before the British Open that, despite being the world’s number one, golf ultimately doesn’t satisfy the deepest parts of his heart.
This echoes Solomon’s haunting words in Ecclesiastes 2:10–11:
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired… Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done… everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
If Solomon—the wisest, wealthiest king in history—could admit the futility of pleasure and success, we must wrestle with the same question he and Scheffler asked: “What’s the point?”
Solomon’s Splendor: Humble Beginnings
To understand how Solomon ended up disillusioned, Pastor Torry takes us back to where it began—in humility. In 1 Kings 3, newly crowned Solomon travels to Gibeon, the most sacred worship site in Israel, to seek God’s help. In a dream, God invites Solomon to ask for anything he wants. Rather than riches or power, Solomon requests wisdom to lead God’s people well.
This reveals a profound truth: Solomon saw himself as a steward. He recognized that the kingdom wasn’t his—it was God’s. And because Solomon sought God’s kingdom first, God granted him not only wisdom but also wealth, honor, and peace.
For a time, Solomon’s priorities were clear: everything he built—especially the temple—pointed to the greatness of Yahweh. Under his leadership, Israel flourished, and even the Queen of Sheba was left breathless at the wisdom, wealth, and glory on display.
But as Pastor Torry notes, Solomon’s story doesn’t end at Gibeon. Over time, his focus drifted. His success became self-serving. The humility that brought him to worship slowly gave way to pride.
The Blessing Paradox: A Pattern Through Scripture
This shift reflects what Pastor Torry calls “The Cycle of Blessing.” It begins with humble dependence on God, which leads to divine empowerment, then to great impact, and eventually to tangible blessing—resources, influence, and success. But often, those very blessings become dangerous when they lead to pride, self-reliance, and ultimately, spiritual drift.
This isn’t unique
