Hiram

HIRAM
(1 st Kings 7: 13-40)

I got to my workshop early that morning, tired. 
I had been working on some
commissions for these clients, and 
I was running out of time. 
They want me to complete in a month 
what would usually take me 3 month to do! 
The problem is, I can’t delegate this work 
to my boys. 
They don’t have enough experience to 
handle these things.
As they say, “if you want anything done 
properly, you do it yourself!” 
So I’ve been working 18 hours daily for 
the past 3 weeks to try meet the deadline.
Hopefully, I can take a few days rest 
when I complete the work!
I am not complaining much, anyway. 
These clients pay top dollar for my
services. I am from another country, 
I came her about 2 decades ago to
hone my skills in my field. 
The best people in this field are 
from this country, so I crossed over to 
learn and develop myself as a craftsman. 
I joined the best in this country and I 
learned pretty fast! 
I was very dedicated and committed. 
That dedication and commitment has 
led me to where I am today.
I am easily the best craftsman in this 
country now, despite being a foreigner. 
I pay higher taxes as a foreigner, 
but I get the biggest jobs, so it’s
fine with me. 
But I could sense there is a bit of 
restiveness from my colleagues. 
They don’t like the fact that a foreigner
 is lording it over them in their own country. 
They have been trying to get me deported 
for a while, but I have lived above board 
in this country so I entertain no worries 
about that.
I started work by 7am, as I have been 
doing for the past 3 weeks. 
My staff usually come in by 8am. 
I would have put in an hour’s work 
before they come. 
That hour allows me to gather my 
thoughts and project my mind into
the future and plan ahead.
As I was deep in thought, my phone rang. 
Strange number. I picked the call. 
“Hello?” The voice at the other end 
was deep and very official: “Good
morning. Is this Mr. Hiram?”
“Yes. Good morning. Please, who am I 
talking to?”
“I am from the Inland Revenue Department. 
We need you to come for a
meeting with our directors by 12 noon today.
 Thank you”
And the phone went dead. 
Inland Revenue Department? 
What could be the problem, I wondered. 
They have never called me for a meeting. 
I have never had issues with my taxes.
 What are these folks up to this time?
My mind kept thinking of all the scenarios 
that could play out later that day
when I visit the IRD. 
I could hardly concentrate on my work- 
I had a feeling there was trouble…
12 noon, I was at the IRD office. 
I was ushered in front of the 4 of their
directors. 
They had several files with them, all 
bearing the name of my
company.
“You are Mr. Hiram?” one of them asked.
“Yes sir.”
“Ok. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. 
We have been carrying out
an investigation on your company. 
We have evidences of some shady
deals you were involved in and you did 
not declare all your income for the
past 5 years. 
You are owing a lot of money 
in backlog of taxes. 
This is a grievous crime and you will be 
charged to court very soon. 
You may need to hire the services of 
a lawyer to handle this case for you. 
Have a nice day!” 
And with that, I was ushered out!
Just like that! 
No explanations, no chance for me 
to even try defend myself.
These guys have just accused me of 
a very serious crime! 
What evidence?
Which shady deals? 
I don’t really understand what is going on…
As I got back to my workshop, 
I put a call across to my lawyer and my
accountant. 
I asked them to come over, there is a 
very serious issue we need to discuss.
I sat behind my desk in my office, exhausted. 
I had no idea where to start from…
In that moment, my phone rang. 
These IRD guys again! 
What did they forget to tell me? 
I ignored the call. 
After a few minutes, it rand again. 
And again. And again…
These guys are so determined to ruin me! 
I looked at the phone. 
It was a strange number! 
It looked like a foreign number. 
I picked the phone and looked closely. 
This looks like a call from my country! 
I picked the call.
“Hello?”
“Good” afternoon sir. Mr Hiram?”
“Yes sir.”
“This is Mr. Abez, the Chief of Staff to King Solomon. 
Hold on for his highness…”
King Solomon? 
The king of my country?
 Is this some sort of joke???
“Hello, Hiram. How are you doing?”
“Hello sir. I mean, your Excellency. 
I mean, your Highness…”
The king laughed! 
I know it is not every day you get a 
phone call from your
king. I decided to talk to you myself 
and not send one of my aides. 
I will go straight to the point, Hiram. 
Your country needs you.
 I need you. I am building a Temple 
for Jehovah and also building my 
own Palace. 
I understand you are the best craftsman 
in the world, and I need the best to
work on these projects. 
It will take you about 20 years to 
complete these projects, so I am 
practically asking to hire you for the 
next 20 years! 
I know you have not been back here 
in a very long time, but see this as a 
National Assignment. 
You will be adequately compensated 
and taken care of. 
You must know that money is not a 
problem for me. 
I will send one of the royal
aircraft to come pick you tomorrow, 
if you agree to work with me on these two
projects…”
I was dazed. 
I am actually talking to King Solomon! 
The richest man in the entire world! 
The wisest man in the entire world! 
He wants to engage me for the next 20 years!
 Amazing.
“What do you say, Hiram?
 Do you need some time to think it over?”
“No, your highness! I accept- it will be 
a great honor to be involved in the
construction of the temple of Jehovah 
and your own Palace! 
I will be ready tomorrow to return 
back to commence the work, your highness! 
I will just have to make a few arrangements 
here before coming over tomorrow sir…”
“Ok. The Royal Jet will be at the airport 
to pick you up. 
My Chief of Staff will discuss details with you. 
Thank you, Hiram. Been a pleasure talking to you.
See you tomorrow.”
A few minutes later, I was done with the 
Chief of Staff.
 I sat down, my head running in circles. 
Just a few minutes ago, 
I was brooding over the info I
received from the IRD. 
And now, I just got the biggest job 
proposal I can ever get!
Just then, the lawyer and accountant 
walked in. they both looked very worried. 
“Hiram, I know why you called. 
You have a lot of powerful enemies
who are simply jealous of your business 
successes. They are pulling
strings to get you deported!”
I laughed!
“It’s a very serious issue, Hiram! 
It’s not funny, please. I have some
contacts in Immigration…”
“I know it’s serious. But don’t worry, ok? 
God’s got me covered. I will be
returning to my country tomorrow. 
I just spoke to King Solomon…”
And I told them what King Solomon told me.
24 hours later, the Royal Jet landed.
I boarded.
2 hours later, I was sitting before 
King Solomon, discussing business.
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? 
He shall stand before kings; he
shall not stand before mean men”- Proverbs 22:29