Wisdom and Understanding

In 1Kings 3 Solomon has a life-changing opportunity. He is approached by God in a dream and asked “What should I give you?” Wow, how huge is that? I encourage you to take a moment and pause to think. What would you ask? Note your initial response, and then continue to think more deeply about it. What is your true heart’s desire?

Solomon asked “Give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 1Kings 3:9

What a great thing for a king to ask for and seek. God was pleased with him.
“I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” 1Kings 3:12-14

The next 7 chapters speak of his wisdom, riches, and honor. It describes how he is unlike any king there ever was. The queen of Sheba said:
“The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true. But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard. How happy are your men. How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom. Blessed be the Lord your God! He delighted in you and put you on the throne of Israel, because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel. He made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.” 1Kings 10:6-9

In chapter 11 things start to take a turn. Solomon strayed from God despite his gifts of knowing right and wrong and having honor and riches.
“He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been…Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, and unlike his father David, he did not remain loyal to the Lord.” 1 Kings 11:4,6
He followed other gods of his 1,000s of wives and concubines and built temples for them. Over time he became depressed to say the least.
““Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2
I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. “ Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

It didn’t hit me until this morning that Solomon's true heart’s desire was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. His desire to rule as God would was not a bad thing. The way that he desired to led him astray in his life.

We can live in a relationship with God and seek Him. As we grow close as with any relationship we start to become more like Him, acting as He does without a second thought, listening more and more to what He says allowing it to carry more weight. We have a joy, an intimacy, a trust that has been built. We have a desire not only to know but to follow and apply.

Then there’s seeking God for answers. What do I do? What’s right or wrong? Tell me what choice I should make so I don’t mess up. Help me to be perfect. Help me to not fail. I don’t want to experience bad things, keep me from them. I’m not seeking a relationship if that’s the only time I’m seeking God. I’m wanting a cheat code for life. A magic 8 ball to make the decision easier. A fortune teller to help me know what’s coming so I’m not waiting uncomfortably. This is what Solomon chose. He wanted to know what to do and act as god himself in doing so.

How convicting this is. I seek God way more out of a want for an answer. To know what I’m to do. I want to know what’s going to happen so I can prepare myself good or bad. I want the answers to minimize my suffering in life, as we saw with Solomon though answers aren’t what gives a good life.

When following God in a relationship and wanting to be near Him, life is different. I have seen it in my own life. It is SO much better. My surroundings have not changed, but my peace has. My patience has grown. My outlook is so much brighter. Life is immediately greater. It doesn’t stop there though, because the people around me feel the difference in how I’m acting and they begin to change too. When I seek God for counsel it’s not out of desperation for an answer. It’s out of the want of a close friend, who will guide and comfort me. A friend who will be there for me wether He answers or not and will help me through anything.

Oh Lord I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I have been wanting a quick fix, a solution that will fix it all. May I go back to seeking You for a relationship, not answers. May I rest in your presence not the false security of knowing what’s to come. Help me to stop trying to play your role and be in control. Help me truly give it all to you. Thank you for loving me, saving me, and being there for me, for calling me to evaluate my heart’s desire. I pray I grow in staying in your presence longer.

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