Chuck Smith emphasizes that God desires fellowship with humanity, created out of love, but sin has disrupted this relationship. He explains that living in fellowship with God brings life, while living in sin leads to spiritual death. God seeks to redeem fallen man, guiding them towards their spiritual nature, as exemplified by Solomon's request for wisdom over worldly desires. Smith highlights that God rewards those who prioritize His work, offering wisdom, riches, and honor to those who seek the spirit over the flesh. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a focus on spiritual priorities to experience the fullness of God's blessings.

"SO MUCH MORE" I. GOD DESIRES FELLOWSHIP WITH MAN. A. This is the reason why He created man. 1. His heart of love yearned to bestow itself. 2. Love had to be meaningful, thus man had to be self-determinate. B. Sin broke the fellowship with God. 1. Two sides to man's nature: flesh and spirit. 2. "God is a Spirit, they that worship Him..." 3. Sin is allowing the flesh side of your nature to rule over you. C. Living in fellowship with God is life. 1. Rich and fulfilling. 2. You are answering to the basic purpose. D. Living out of fellowship with God is death. 1. You are just passing time awaiting death. 2. Dead while still alive. E. The mind of the flesh is death, the mind of the spirit is life, peace, Joy. II. GOD DESIRES TO REDEEM FALLEN MAN. A. Man has chosen to live after his fleshly appetites. 1. It seems so logical, the way to satisfy your hunger is to eat, the way to satisfy your thirst is to drink. 2. We may discover momentary satisfaction but the fact is I always get hungry again. 3. We spend our whole lives trying to satisfy our hunger and thirst without getting too fat. B. God is seeking to lead men to the spirit side of his nature. 1. God called a man to begin a nation through a miracle of faith in God. a. Faith being a spiritual quality, God was seeking a spiritual nation. b. Through this nation and another miraculous birth He was going to send His Son. III. GOD HAS CHOSEN MAN TO DO HIS WORK. A The manifest exception is the work of redemption which no man could do for all have sinned. B. God used a man to begin a spiritual nation. 1. He desired that this nation be an example to the world of the blessing of the spiritual life. 2. He sought men to lead the nation in the path of the spirit. C. He said to Solomon, "Ask anything you want." 1. What would you ask for? a Your request is all revealing for it reveals your attitude of the life of the Spirit. b. If you ask for riches, power, fame, you still feel you can find satisfaction in the flesh. 2. This is why God was so pleased with Solomon's request. a. "Give me an understanding heart to judge your people." b. "Equip me God to do your work." IV. GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO DO HIS WORK. A. He gives so much more. 1. I will give you wisdom beyond all others. a. He spoke 3,000 proverbs. b. He wrote 1,005 songs. c. He taught botany and biology. 2. Also gives you riches and honor. B. It's a matter of priority-what is first in your life? 1. The flesh, and how to satisfy its desires? 2. "Seek ye first.." 3. "For the eyes of the Lord do to and fro throughout all the earth to show Himself strong.." 4. God still seeks to show the world the blessing of choosing the spirit.