Solomon Asks For Wisdom Series

1 Kings 3

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

1 Kings 3:7-14 NIV

“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.”

V. 7 - But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.

The first step in getting wisdom is admitting we need it.

James 1:5 NIV

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.

People who seek God first make better decisions.

Jesus wants to lead us more than we want to be led.

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is the art of living skillfully in whatever conditions we find ourselves.

How do we find wisdom?

Pay attention to wise people.

Proverbs 15:22 NIV

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Show me your friends and I’ll know your advisers.

1 Kings 12:6-11 NIV

“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked. 7 They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants." 8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us'?" 10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, "Tell these people who have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter'-tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.'

Because he listened to unwise counsel, the nation of Israel was fractured into two parts.

My Story – Pastor Jack praying over me on the day of the shooting. “You will not make a bad decision for 10 days.”

V. 9 - So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.

Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

v. 10 - Best, pure and blameless

Can we spot what’s best, pure and blameless today?

V.10 - Discern – (Greek) To test and approve, to allow.

We should test and approve everything.

Wise judgment is a sign of maturity.

The Holy Spirit is our filter.