A “through the Bible” devotion from 1 Kings 3.
What do you want for your birthday? What do you want for Christmas? What are your salary expectations? What do you want for supper?
God says to Solomon, “Ask what you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Later Jesus would say, “Ask…seek…knock” (Matthew 7:7).
A blank check from the omnipotent God. What do you ask for? What do you dare ask for?
It’s got to be big, right? You might not get another chance. But not too big. You don’t want to sound greedy or selfish. Do you ask for something that will last? Or for a moment you’ll never forget?
Solomon asks for “an understanding heart to judge and discern” (3:9). It’s a noble, humble, and insightful request. Probably better than anything I would have thought to ask for.
So God gives Solomon “a wise and discerning heart” (3:12) as well as riches and honor (3:13). Before long, all would know that “the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice” (3:28).
So exactly what is the wisdom of God? What does it look like? I think of it it’s the ability to discern what is going on, so you know what to do or not do in a situation.
- Knowing the right thing to say. Or when to just be quiet.
- Knowing when to act. Or when to wait.
- Knowing how to listen and hear what someone is saying. Or know when they’re lying.
- Knowing what to ask for when God says, “What do you want?”
Waite for it... 