Derek Smith, Lead Pastor LHBC
1 Kings 3:3-14
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
The story goes that three men are trapped on an island. They find a genie’s lamp, one rubs the side, and out pops the genie. “I’ll give each of you one wish,” he says. The first man says, “I want to be 25% smarter.” Next thing you know, he jumps in the water and swims off the island. Learning from the first guy the second man shouts, “I want to be 50% smarter!” He looks around a minute, concocts a plan and then cuts down a tree, makes a boat, and rows off the island. The third man watches and ponders then says, “I want to be smarter than those other two guys combined.” He then got up and walked across the bridge over to the mainland.
If you could have only one wish granted in life what would it be? Big thought isn’t it? How you and I answer this question shows where our focus is in life. In this passage King David, the man after God’s own heart, the great worshipper and warrior of Israel, has passed away and the mantle of leadership has been transferred to his son Solomon. Solomon is a young man with no experience and just a little education. The Lord appears to him in a dream and asks Him the million dollar question, “what one thing would you desire most from Me?” Instead of asking for health, wealth, and prosperity he asks for….wisdom.
I am so impressed here with his humility. A hot shot young King says, “I am but a little child.” I am also impressed with his servant’s heart because he says it was because of this great people that he needed to be a great and wise leader.
Wisdom is living life successfully according to God’s standard. Solomon would go on to write in Proverbs that in all our getting in life we must get wisdom. It is to be sought after more than silver, gold, power, prestige, possessions, or pleasure. Solomon realized at a very early age that without God’s wisdom he was sunk. The same is true for you and I. Without the wisdom of God we will fail drastically in this life. You can have everything the world has to offer, even be the shining example of earthly success, but without Christ and His spiritual discernment, it is useless.
James 1:5 tells us that if we lack wisdom we can ask of God and He will give it to us. Our Lord is no genie, but He has made a promise that when we call on Him with a humble heart asking for wisdom, we too will receive it. I challenge you today, ask the Lord for wisdom. Above all else pursue the knowledge of the Holy One. In Him you will find joy, peace, and confidence to make the hard decisions in life.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, I recognize that I am but a child like Solomon when it comes to wisdom. I need Your Spirit and Your insight. I thank You for promising to give me wisdom when I ask, so today I ask that you will fill me with Your wisdom. In Jesus name, amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.