Wisdom

Solomon is said to the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 3:12).  Whether you recognize the value of it yet or not, wisdom is something we all need in our lives. So lets take a look at Solomon’s wisdom and see how he came about it.

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Knowledge: Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education. The theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Wisdom: The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge and good judgment.

1 Kings 3:5–14 ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” ⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. ⁷ “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. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ 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?”

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

2 characteristics of wise people:

1. Wise people recognize the value of wisdom. 
   1. Proverbs 8:11 ¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her
2. Wise people are humble people.
   1. Proverbs 9:10 ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
   2. Proverbs 11:2 ² When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

 

Big Idea: Ask God for wisdom.

James 1:5–6 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. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.