Seeking Godly Wisdom
2 Chronicles 1:8-12
Introduction-
This morning I want to talk to you about wisdom, Godly wisdom.
I want you to see in Scripture there is a big difference between Godly wisdom and the wisdom of man.
We laugh when we watch shows like “so you think you are smarter than a fifth grader.” Why? Because we are excited that we can answer questions geared toward a 10 year old. I don’t laugh as much or as hard when I watch Brain Busters or Jeopardy, why? Because those questions are much harder to answer and I don’t get as many right.
In the game of life- when God asks us the tough questions;
We will have to look in the face of the camera and say “I am not smarter than God.”
2 Chronicles chapter 1-
Solomon son of king David establishes himself as a worthy king after his father died and he took the throne of Israel.
Solomon spoke eloquently to the leaders of Israel.
Continued to follow as his father did in the love of God.
He assembled his leaders in the Tent of Meetings just like Moses did in the desert.
Scripture tells us that Solomon offered 1000 burnt offerings and God appeared before Solomon.
2 Chronicles 1:7- That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
That statement is where dreams and movies are made of- ask whatever you want and I will give it to you!
Our minds go to all kinds of things from Aston Martin cars, new homes, clothing, jet setting events, rubbing shoulders with the wealthy.
If God said to you-“Ask me whatever you want and I will give it to you”- what would you ask for?
Here is Solomon response- 2 Chronicles chapter 1:8-12 (Text)
A couple things jump out to me with these verses-
When God asks you a question, answer it truthfully but make sure it God’s will that is the motive of the response.
Example- we are praying and asking God for help in a situation in your life, and God says to us “What do you want me to do”? Our usual answer would be bless us, cars, boats, houses, destroy the enemy that we believe is the thorn in our side. But what God is asking is…what can I do for you to accomplish what I have asked you to do. Our response should be wisdom and knowledge, guidance, direction, strength, give us the ability to discern and do what you desire.
Solomon was made king- God told him ask for whatever you want me to give you-
The correct response- wisdom and knowledge to do what you have called me to do.
We need to ask God the right questions with the right motive.
We need to answer his question, keeping in mind what God has asked us to do, and not treat God like a personal genie in a bottle.
Ask, Believe, Receive
That is a Godly principal
That is the principal of prayer.
Ask God….not doubting.
Believe…that God will do it.
Receive….from your Heavenly Father.
Provided that what you are asking, believing, and wanting to receive is the will of the Father.
(11) God’s response to Solomon-
“since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches, or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for long life, but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king. Therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you (He gives him a positive answer to his request) I can do that!
Continuing – And, I will also give you wealth, riches, honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” (God give us a few of the wants and desires when we focus not on our wants and desires.)
Ask according to His purpose
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the things that we have asked of Him.”
Most people are taught that we ask according to our purpose, but the Bible teaches it is according to His purpose.
“Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified.” Will God be glorified by answering your prayer?
God has not changed-
Because you have not asked for wealth.
Because you are not selfish.
Because you have a heart after God.
I will give you what you ask + things that you have not asked for!
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Asking with the right motive has benefits when God is involved.
All these things will be added unto you can be a blessing from God when we are in His will.
There are some steps we can take to receive Godly wisdom. These are Biblical principal’s that work. Are you interested?
I. Recognize that you need God’s wisdom
You need to recognize that God is smarter than you are!
I have seen many people with book knowledge and have no common sense.
I have seen many that think they have figured out God and are playing the spiritual game of chess and they are close to being Checked mated.
“But God choose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things that are not- to nullify the things that are.”
You want to have a chess game with God-you will be check Mated! Guaranteed!
Experience is a good tool, but learning from someone else’s mistake is wisdom (my quote) use it if you want too.
Experience is good.
Book knowledge is good.
Learning from someone else’s mistake….priceless! that is Godly wisdom!
Recognize you need Godly wisdom (#1)
II. Seek Godly wisdom Early
When you find yourself in a hole- stop digging!
Abraham Lincoln-
“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”
God word is wisdom
Don’t wait till you have tried it your way.
Don’t wait till you have messed it up.
Seek God first- everyday things in your life!
Relationships
Buying a car
Before you make a big decision.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
“I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.”
III. Ask for wisdom
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Ask, Seek, and knock
“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Solomon asked and God said yes!
The only way that you will know God’s wisdom from your own is if you are seeking God’s wisdom.
Put your decision up against the word of God and see if it stands the test of God’s truth- if it doesn’t. don’t do it!
No is an answer! If you are only asking God the yes questions, you are not asking the right questions.
R.A. Torrey
We do not live in a prayer age. We live in an age of hustle and bustle, of man’s efforts and man’s determination, of man’s confidence in himself and his own power to achieve things, an age of human organization, human machinery, and human push, and human scheming, and human achievement, which in the things of God means no real achievement at all.”
We are expected as children of God to be in communication with God our Father.
We are expected to ask for the things God has promised.
“Ask and it shall be given.”
Ask God for wisdom-
Ask God to step into our decision making process of our lives.
Closing-
Let’s recap this-
If you are going to honestly seek Godly wisdom you will have to:
(1) Recognize that you need Godly Wisdom
(2) Seek Godly wisdom early
(3) Ask God for wisdom
Godly wisdom comes from God and is not based upon the foolishness of man.
As believers, we know that it is not all about us, it is about pleasing God and wanting to do what He has called us too.
Anytime you come to God, you ought to come in the right attitude, and you ought to desire that His will be done in your life.
You must be willing to put your plan aside to do what God has instructed.
“And we know that all thing work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.”
That text is taken out of context often, God does not take all bad things and turn them to good. Obvious if you look at what is going on in this world. All things work for those that love God and are called according to His purpose.
Amen.
