God's Gift of Wisdom

Today's three points:

I. We CAN prepare ourselves to receive God's blessings.

That is: Solomon requests wisdom

II. God is pleased to give us what we need to fulfill the role he has for us.

That is: The gift of wisdom

III. When we have the opportunity and the gift, we can bring glory to God by using those gifts to minister to others

That is: The exercise of wisdom

First Point and questions:  How do we prepare ourselves to receive Gods blessings?  Is it even possible to do that?

I. We CAN prepare ourselves to receive God's blessings.

Read 1 Kings 3:3-4
Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

a. Solomon loved God and desired to worship him

b. Solomon walked in the statutes of his father.  In David's last instructions for Solomon, David told him to "show himself a man" 1 Kings 2:2

c. Solomon had accepted the role God appointed him to (being King!)

Read 1 Kings 3:6
6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

d. Solomon recognized he was deficient to do the job God called him to do. 

Read 1 Kings 3:7-9
7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Solomon did not make some lofty spiritual request.  He was asking God to equip him for the work!

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”



Think about where God has put you.  Are you ready to receive a gift from God to equip you for the work he has given you?

II. God is pleased to give us what we need to fulfill the role he has for us.

 10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 

What do you need for the role God has you in right now?

 Ephesians 3:20
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.  

The blessings and gifts may not be tangible.  They may not be apparent to others.  But God always does abundantly more to allow us to bring glory to him and minister to others.

III. When we have the opportunity and the gift, we can bring glory to God by using those gifts to minister to others

 The story of two wayward women.

What does this story tell us about God's nature and the ministries he has given us?

Read 1 Kings 3:23-27
23 Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” 24 The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. 25 The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” 26 Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for [m]she was deeply stirred over her son and said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!” 27 Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”

As a result, all Israel feared (or revered) the king because they recognized that God was with him and had given him wisdom to administer justice.

When God gives us the gifts or skills needed to fill his role for us, it is apparent to others.

There are some major red flags in this story of Solomon and warnings for us.
a. Alliances with non-believers
b. Worship in the high places
c. When God's blessings become more important than the blesser.

James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.