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King Solomon

Can We Have Wisdom Like Solomon?

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Hopefully We’re Wiser Than He Was

Making decisions can be a hard thing. Should I do this, or should I do that? It’s easier when there’s a clear choice of good or bad.

It’s much harder when it’s deciding between good and good.

Wouldn’t it be nice if God would just tell us what to do?

The problem with this is that we would not have free will. We would be nothing more than puppets. We wouldn’t like that either.

We just need wisdom to help us make these choices.

Solomon is often associated with wisdom. In 1 Kings 3:5-15, God comes to Solomon in a dream and asks him what he wants.

Solomon was a young man and had become the leader of a huge nation. He asks God for, “…an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom.

So, God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!

And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!

And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”

Later, Solomon starts listening to the wrong voices…mainly his 1000 wives. (1 Kings 11:1-13)

“In Solomon’s old age they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David had been. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely.

The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord…”

Both David and Solomon received direction and blessings from God, but their lives ended up drastically different.

David made plenty of mistakes, but he repented and realigned with God. Solomon, on the other hand, did not. This resulted in consequences for Solomon’s family and the entire kingdom.

We need to constantly be in communication with God. This ongoing, nonstop connection is the only way that we can align our desires with His. Sure, we’ll make mistakes and wrong decisions. This is what happens in a fallen world.

But we also have the power of choice and can ask for forgiveness and repent of those mistakes. David chose this and Solomon didn’t.

We need to align what we ask from God with God.

The Wisdom of a Life Plan

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Instructions from an Old Man On a Mountain

 

Since the beginning of the new year I have been working to get my ‘life plan’ for this year completed. As a part of this process I spend time looking back over the last year specifically and my life in general. I am naturally a people pleaser, so it would only make sense that I also want to please God. The hard part is figuring out the details of what God wants me to do and who he wants me to be. To find my purpose and live the life that He intended for me.

As a part of this process, this year I am incorporating ‘The Seven Decisions’ from the book “The Travelers Gift” by Andy Andrews. The second decision is ‘The Guided Decision; I Will Seek Wisdom’. This ‘Decision’ is based on King Solomon. From the time I was a kid and heard about King Solomon I was inspired by him. His asking God for wisdom instead of all of the other things he could have asked for (2 Chronicles 1:8-13). I have always wanted that kind of wisdom.

I have always seen wisdom as just knowing the right things to do. Not some old sage living all alone in a cave on a mountain that has all of the answers to life’s questions. However, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if this image isn’t pretty close to what wisdom actually is like. Let’s break this down and look at it.

Old: Their age would mean they have lived through or witnessed more of life’s experiences and had the opportunity to learn from them. The more information that we have the better our decisions should be.

Living alone: This solitude would have less distractions and interruptions. It would allow for more thought and self-reflection. We need to regularly take some quiet time to be alone; to think and contemplate.

The cave: This would be evidence they realized the importance of seeking the right things in life. Living simply and not being sucked into the desire for accumulating a bunch of worldly stuff. It is easy to be drawn into this vortex of accumulation. Having stuff isn’t bad, unless it becomes the focus above all else.

The mountain: Would represent the importance of looking outward. Intentionally taking time to see the beauty of the world around and not being self-absorbed. It is hard to see the beauty around us if we’re always looking in.

Okay so on second thought, maybe I do want to be a wise old man living on a mountain.

As I mature, take time for introspection, keep my focus on the right things and observe the beauty around me I will seek to live the life that God has given me and fulfill His purpose.