Because thou… hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked for riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies. — 1 Kgs 3:11
It is interesting to notice the things God was pleased that Solomon had not chosen. Long life is not the most desirable thing among God’s gifts. The completest life ever lived on this earth was only three and thirty years in length.
Riches was another thing Solomon had not chosen. No doubt, if the choice were offered, many would choose money before all things else. There is a Russian legend of one who entered a diamond–mine in search of riches. He filled his pockets with gems, and then, as he went on, threw them away to make room for the larger gems he found. At length he became thirsty, but there was no water. He heard the flow of rivers, but when he came to them they were rivers of gems. At what seemed the sound of a waterfall, he hastened forward, only to find a cascade of diamonds. With all this wealth round him, he was dying of thirst.