Seeking God's Wisdom
By Dean Collins
Reading through 1 Kings makes you wonder how Solomon could so quickly move from praying for wisdom and seeking God in chapter three to worshiping idols and violating the direct commands of God in chapter eleven. The truth is that it wasn’t all at once but little by little. One compromise led to another, and over a period of about twenty years, Solomon’s wisdom was becoming diluted.
For today we will focus on the wonderful example of Solomon we find in 1 Kings 3 and 2 Chronicles 1. These two chapters give us the details of Solomon’s desire to do what God had assigned for him to do as king of a united Israel. There are three verses in this chapter that speak volumes to anyone who has been given a leadership assignment. Read verses seven through nine and see if you agree.
“And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
I can’t count the number of times in my life that I have felt just like Solomon did in these verses! It happened in my first ministry, the first time I started a ministry, and in every other job I have ever taken. Whenever we start a new role or season of life, we quickly realize how much we don’t really know and how much we need God’s wisdom in order to succeed.
For the last twenty years, I have often thought that God gave me an assignment that was over my head. How about you? Do you ever feel like you are a child or novice, and yet God has called you to lead your family, your church, your business, or your community? Solomon basically told God he wasn’t sure which way to go and yet knew that he was now king and was in charge of more people and more stuff than he could have imagined. And in that moment Solomon’s heart was pure, and he asked God for the right thing: wisdom.
Asking God for wisdom is not a one-and-done activity. God did give Solomon great wisdom, and we are the beneficiaries of that wisdom in the books that Solomon wrote. But it is clear from the books of Kings and Chronicles that overtime Solomon began to worship other gods, took on hundreds of wives, and did not always practice the wisdom that God had provided him.
One of the greatest prayers we can all pray each day is that God grant us his wisdom for the day. And even then, not just once but in the many decisions we face each day. God loves us and desires to grant us wisdom when we ask him. In the New Testament James gave us this clear instruction for our daily benefit: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (1:5)
Today, Lord, we come asking for your wisdom. Thank you for your generous promise that you will always respond to our prayers for wisdom when we seek you. Forgive us for the many times we thought we were smart enough and wise enough to lead based on our own knowledge and wisdom. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and your wisdom that we might honor you and others in all we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
1 Kings 3:5-15; James 1:5 ESV
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