One of the fascinating meetings between God and man is in 1 Kings 3. The Lord comes to King Solomon in a dream; in verse five, He tells Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you.” This question is rare, especially from God. However, it’s a massive opportunity for Solomon to ask for anything, and he chooses to ask for wisdom. This choice is affirmed and blessed by God. As we study this example, we learn to look for wisdom in today’s world. Let’s look deeper into why we should ask for wisdom.
The difference between good and evil.
After thanking God and humbly worshipping Him, Solomon makes his move. In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon says, “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?”
This request is a smart one from King Solomon. As someone in a leadership position, if he understands good and evil, he can make wise choices for his kingdom, preventing war and irrationality. He can form partnerships with the right people while seeing character and truth in others. He can also know what judgments to make. In the next verse, we learn that Solomon’s choice pleases God. Here are some reasons why we should ask for wisdom.
Wisdom can create other blessings.
God clearly shows that He will bless Solomon with more than what he wanted because he wasn’t selfish with his answer. Solomon could’ve asked for money, a long life, or victory over his enemies, but he didn’t. As a result, God bless him with riches, honor, and more. Then, He promises that if Solomon walks in His ways, He will lengthen his life, as noted in 1 Kings 3:11-14. What a wonderful gift from God to give to an unworthy imperfect person.
Wisdom would naturally lead to these other blessings when we think about this. A wise man usually does well in every aspect of life. He would likely excel in his career, which could make a significant profit, and he would make ethical choices that would put him in a position of honor in his community. Finally, it’s typically up to God’s timing, but wisdom can help someone not do something foolish that would cause early death. When a man is wise, it seeps into all of his life choices. This idea is why wisdom is such a great thing to ask from God. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Wisdom is a divine gift.
Some Christians have wisdom as their top gift from the Holy Spirit. They are people who know how to live God’s Word, appreciate holiness, and want to help others understand His worthiness. Perhaps you have this spiritual gift and can relate. This gift has been given to certain people to uplift Christ’s body through the understanding and applications of Scripture in everyday life.
The Greek word for wisdom is sophia, which refers to the intimate understanding of God’s Word and commandments which lead to holy and upright living. In the context of 1 Corinthians 12:8, it means speaking to an individual’s life or a particular situation with understanding and a moral perspective to lead others toward a life of worship and holiness.
Wisdom gives knowledge of God.
Wisdom gives us an appropriate fear of God. This fear isn’t anxiety but awe and reverence of His holiness. It helps us know how great God is and how sinful we are. Wisdom also shows us God’s knowledge. Wisdom helps us read and comprehend the Scriptures and then apply what the Lord teaches to our daily lives.
Proverbs 2:2-6 tells us, “Tune your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Can we have this wisdom?
Solomon’s wisdom came from God. Although we’ll never be Solomon and won’t rule a kingdom, we can ask God to help us have wisdom from Him when we have the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can have this God-given wisdom. James 1:5 clearly states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” The Lord wants us to ask for wisdom. You could even say that He delights in this prayer request.
How can we use wisdom?
As we think about the joy and blessings of a wise life, we’re compelled to make decisions that reflect God’s best. What do you need wisdom on right now? There will always be times when we need to apply God’s Word, but what can we do to seek wisdom?
The first thing you should do is read your Bible. Daily Bible reading helps us know and understand Scripture. Wisdom is utilizing that truth. If we’re not spending the with God and seeking His Word, we won’t be able to use that truth because we won’t know it. Regularly seeking God in His Word gives us the knowledge we need to use.
It may also help to look for wise people in your life. Who is someone in your life that lives out faith in discerning ways? Spending time with knowledgeable people and asking them questions can help you glean from their experiences.
Finally, you should set time aside to pray and ask God for wisdom. Cry out to Him in specific areas where you need direction. He will always be faithful and lead you down the right path. Knowledge is one of the best things that we can ask from God. With wisdom, we can make informed decisions and help you realize what you’re doing. We could ask God for anything we want, like money, wealth, and notoriety. However, when we ask Him for wisdom, He knows we’re serious about our relationship with Him.
