Why We Should Ask for Wisdom
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- Published Jun 08, 2022
One of the most interesting encounters between God and man found in the Bible is in 1 Kings 3. The Lord appears to King Solomon in a dream and says to him in verse 5, “Ask what I shall give you.” This is a rare question from God to Solomon in Scripture. This is a big opportunity for Solomon to request anything and he decides to ask for wisdom. His decision is affirmed and blessed by God. As we look at this example, it teaches us to seek wisdom in our world today. We are going to take a deeper look at why we should ask for wisdom.
Discerning Good and Evil
After humbly worshipping God and thanking Him, Solomon makes his request. 1 Kings 3:9 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 is such a smart request from the king. As someone in leadership, if he has an understanding of good and evil, he will be able to make discerning choices for his kingdom. This could prevent folly and war. This could help him make alliances with the right people. He will be able to see character and truth within others and he will be able to know what judgments to make. We read that Solomon’s decision pleases the Lord. (1 Kings 3:10)
Wisdom Leads to Other Blessings
Not only this, God makes it clear that He is going to bless Solomon with more than what he asked for because he was not selfish with his answer. Solomon did not ask for a long life, riches, or victory over enemies. So the Lord blesses him more and gives him riches and honor. He then promises that if Solomon walks in His ways that He will lengthen his life. (1 Kings 3:11-14) What a kind gift of God to give to an imperfect and unworthy person.
When we think about this, wisdom would naturally lead to these other blessings. When a man is wise, he often does well in all areas of life. He would likely succeed in his career which could produce a large profit, he also would make virtuous decisions that would put him in a place of honor among others within the community. Lastly, it is ultimately up to God’s timing, but wisdom can help a person not to do something foolish that would cause an early death. When a man is wise, it overflows in all of his life choices. This is why wisdom is such a wonderful thing to ask of God. It is a gift that keeps giving.
Can We Have This Wisdom?
Solomon’s wisdom came from God and although we will never be Solomon, and likely never rule a kingdom on this earth, when we have the Holy Spirit in our lives, we have the ability to ask the Lord to help us to have wisdom from Him. (Proverbs 2:6) We too can have this type of God-given wisdom. James 1:5 tells us clearly, “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 invites us to ask for wisdom. It is almost as if He delights in this prayer request.
Wisdom Is a Spiritual Gift
Some Christians actually have wisdom as a top gift from the Holy Spirit. They are people who know how to apply the Word of God to life, have a deep appreciation for the holiness of the Lord, and desire to help others understand His worthiness. Maybe you have this spiritual gift and can relate. This has been entrusted to specific individuals to encourage the body of Christ through the understanding and applications of Scripture in daily life.
The Spiritual Gifts Test tells says, “The Greek word for wisdom is sophia and it refers to the intimate understanding of God’s Word and His commandments which results in holy and upright living. In the context of 1 Corinthians 12:8, it means to speak to the life of an individual or to a specific situation with great understanding and a righteous perspective, with the goal of guiding others toward a life of holiness and worship.”
Wisdom Gives Fear and Knowledge of God
Wisdom gives us a proper fear of the Lord. This is a fear not of anxiety, but of proper reverence and awe of His holiness. Wisdom helps us to know how great God is and how sinful we are. It also reveals the knowledge of God. Wisdom helps us to read and comprehend the Scriptures and then apply what the Lord is teaching to our daily lives.
Proverbs 2:2-6 says, “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.”
Charles Spurgeon says, To know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
Beth Moore says, “Wisdom is knowledge applied. Head knowledge is useless on the battlefield. Knowledge stamped on the heart makes one wise.”
How to Use Wisdom
As we think about all of the blessing and joy that comes from a wise life, we are compelled to make choices that reflect God’s best. What is it that you need wisdom on right now? There will always be situations when we need to apply God’s Word. What can we do to seek wisdom?
- Be in God’s Word Daily: Reading the Bible each day helps us to have knowledge of Scripture. Wisdom is applying that truth. If we are not spending time with the Lord and seeking His Word, we will not be able to apply truth because we will not know truth. Seeking the Lord regularly in His Word gives us the knowledge that we need to apply.
- Surround Yourself with Wise Counselors: Who is wise in your life? Who is someone further along in life who seems to apply the Bible well and live out faith in discerning ways? Spending time with wise people and asking them good questions helps us to glean from their experiences.
- Pray for Wisdom: Lastly, take time to pray and ask God for wisdom. He loves this prayer. Cry out to Him with specific areas where you need direction. He will always be faithful to lead you.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Chinnapong
