Scripture
1 Kings 3:1-15
James 1:5
James 3:13-18
Can you imagine God asking you directly, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”? You can ask for anything, and he would give it to you. Like Aladdin with the genie in the lamp, except just one thing instead of three. What would you ask for? Money? An oculus? A boyfriend or girlfriend? Maybe a best friend? I’m sure you could think of a lot of things you’d want and it may be hard to narrow it down to just one thing.
Well, God did ask Solomon this question, not too long after he became king of Judah. So, what did Solomon ask for? He asked for wisdom. He told God in 1 Kings 3:7-9, “Now, 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?”
He recognized his limits, that he doesn’t really know how to lead like his dad did, he’s pretty young, and there were a lot of people he was leading. So, he asked for a discerning heart, for wisdom to know what is right and wrong, so that he could lead God’s people better. Solomon could have asked for anything, but he asked for wisdom so that he could lead better.
God was so pleased with Solomon that he told him, since he asked for that and not for something that would benefit him personally, like wealth or long life, he would not only give him a wise and discerning heart, but he would also give him wealth and honor. He also told him that if he walks in obedience to him and keep his decrees and commands like his dad, David, that he will give him a long life as well.
God is always more than happy to give wisdom to his children. We see in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Wisdom comes from God, and it is a really good gift that he loves to give to his children. It says he gives generously to all. All you need to do is ask God for it. He will never deny your request for wisdom.
Wisdom is something that doesn’t just benefit us, but it mainly benefits those around us. It affects our relationships and the way we interact with and treat others. James talks about wisdom more in chapter 3 and describes it as pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
God asked Solomon what he wanted and he asked for wisdom. But as Christians, we have a personal relationship with God in which we can ask him for things whenever (although that shouldn’t be the entirety of our relationship with him). When we ask for things that are in line with what God wants for us as well, he is more than happy to give it to us. With wisdom being very high on that list. So, if you find yourself lacking wisdom, just ask him for it, he wants to give it, and gives it generously, because he is a very good, generous God.
Prayer
God, I am always in need of more wisdom. Thank you for giving that generously when I ask. So, I pray that you would fill me with your wisdom daily so that I can love others better. I pray that you would give me the wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Fill me with your wisdom, Lord.
Questions/Journal Prompts
Feel free to use these questions as a guide as you journal and/or pray.
1. What is the one thing you would ask for if God said to you, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”?
2. Is there a time in your life where you felt like God gave you wisdom?
3. In that list of characteristics of heavenly wisdom in James 3, which ones would you say describe your life and your relationships with others, and which ones do you need to grow in?
4. Spend some time praying for more wisdom, not just for you, but for your relationship and interactions with others.
Songs to listen to
Spend some time listening to this song, reflecting on the words, and sitting with Jesus.
“Be Thou My Vision” by Ascend the Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jEuPIahKSw
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