Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 3:11

"And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern justice;" — 1 Kings 3:11 (ASV)

Because you have asked. —It is obvious to note this verse as a fulfillment of the Divine law, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). All these secondary blessings are good only to the extent that they contribute to the supreme good, which is the growth of the human nature—by the knowledge of God and by faithfully doing His work on earth—to the perfection designed for it in His wisdom.

As long as Solomon used them in subordination to true wisdom, they were a blessing to him; when he made them idols, they became a curse. The connection of these lower gifts with the moral and intellectual gifts of wisdom is the result of the natural law of God’s Providence, insofar as that law overcomes the resistance of evil and folly, which are still allowed to strive against it.