Wisdom Is A Gift

My mother read me stories from the Bible from the time of my early childhood. One of the accounts that stuck in my mind was Solomon’s request for wisdom. God asked Solomon to request a gift, and Solomon asked for wisdom so that he might rule God’s people well. Solomon’s unselfishness and desire to serve opened the door to blessings and honor.

God appeared to Solomon in a dream, and said: "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

“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.----------- 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?”

“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.’” (1 Kings 3:4-13, NIV)

God gave Solomon wisdom, and his fame spread throughout the earth. “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. -----And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” (1 Kings 4:29-34, NIV)

Solomon received wisdom because he first honored God, and sought God’s help. Just before the dream, Solomon had sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon, the designated place of worship at that time. Solomon sought God by honoring God’s commandments, and by showing respect for God’s power and majesty.

Today we do not need to go to Gibeon or Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice, but we are commanded to offer our very lives as a living sacrifice, Rom 12:1-2. Before we come to God seeking wisdom, we should first respect the power and authority of Jesus, who commanded faith, repentance, and baptism for those who desire to come to him. Jesus is the only way to God, and before we can make request of God for wisdom, we must be cleansed from the stain of our sins, and lay our lives on the altar of faith in Jesus the Christ, who is Lord of heaven and earth.

Do you want wisdom? Then first submit your life to Jesus Christ, and then pray for wisdom as a gift from God, James 1:5. Then use your God given wisdom to make good decisions. The human spirit has the power to overrule the wisdom of God working in our lives, as evidenced by the many bad decisions made by Solomon. As we receive wisdom from God, we must dedicate ourselves to trusting his power, and not rely on wisdom apart from obedience to the will of God. Wisdom is not our ultimate goal, but serving and pleasing God with the gifts that he gives us should be our ultimate desire. True wisdom delights in doing the will of God.