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The Source of Wisdom

Have you ever played the  “Genie Game?”  You know: if you only had three wishes, what would they be?  As a kid, I figured out the obvious answer, which is why I love the line from Disney’s Aladdin: “Three wishes... and ixnay on wishing for more wishes! That's it! Three! Uno, dos, tres. No substitutions, exchanges or refunds!”

Solomon only had one wish, but almighty God promised to fulfill it!  1 Kings 3:5 -- At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."  Can you imagine that kind of blank check?  From God?  The mind and heart spin with possibilities.  Bottomless, unending wealth would be a natural thought.  Health.  Long life.  More emotional ideas spring to mind: passionate love, the ability to never worry, a complete lack of self-consciousness.  Selfish wishes like vengeance on an enemy or supernatural power would be considerations.  What about social justice?  I wish that no one would ever go hungry again, that war would cease, for a cure to cancer, MS, and the common cold.

Solomon's only answer is well known and rightfully celebrated.  1 Kings 3:6-9 -- Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.  Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.  Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.  So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

God was so impressed by the young king’s request that He gave him far more than he asked for.  1 Kings 3:10-15 -- The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.  So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.  Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings… I will give you a long life."

Indeed, Solomon’s answer was selfless, magnanimous even.  Granted, we know the end of the story, but could there be a better answer to such a question?  It was, in fact, a very wise answer to ask for wisdom.  It made me wonder where this initial burst of wisdom came from!  Where did Solomon get the wisdom to answer God in such an unquestionably correct way?  How did Solomon have the wisdom to ask for wisdom?

I missed it for years, but it’s right there in the text.  Solomon’s motivation in asking for wisdom was that he might be able to better serve GOD’S people.  In Solomon’s four verse answer, he emphasized this truth no less than six times.  He called them a people YOU have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count.  When he asks for wisdom, he asks to be able to govern GOD’S people, not his own.  His final words to God are a humbling question: Who is able to govern this GREAT people of YOURS?”

Solomon later wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Part of that fear is recognizing that the people around us are not our own; they are His.  We never make decisions in a vacuum.  Everything we do – or don’t do – impacts those around us.  Yet how often do we make decisions based on what is best for me?  When we pray for wisdom, we are often simply looking for an answer, a way out of a problem. Our motivation is sometimes quite selfish. Solomon’s motivation was “Who is able to govern this great people of YOURS?"

Who are "His people" in your world and your situation? Are you thinking of them as His people in your decision? Are you thinking of others at all?  This is the beginning of wisdom.  This is an even better answer than “wishing for more wishes.”  This is how God is honored and “pleased” to answer far beyond what we ask or think.

Walk WITH Jesus,

Pastor Jim 

» left by Teresa^(1,655) (1 year 254 days ago.)

Hi Jim, Another great lesson! I tried several times to get this on the front page, but for some reason, it doesn't recognize the text. Wierd. Again, excellent thoughts to ponder. Blessings to you! Teresa

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