Wisdom: Putting It All Together Series

INTRODUCTION

• VIDEO CLIP

• SLIDE #1

• Sometimes otherwise brilliant people do not make good decisions.

• Leadership is not easy. It is not easy being a leader because there are so many pressures from so many directions.

• We have seen many great leaders make fatal mistakes in judgment that will haunt them throughout history.

• Over the past few weeks we have been looking at some of the elements that are necessary for one to be a leader.

• As I have said each week during this series, we are all leaders in some capacity or we will be.

• Today we are going to dig into the issue of wisdom. From our knowledge of history, disgraced former President Nixon, who was otherwise an intelligent man, made some fatal mistakes during his Presidency that ultimately caused him to resign from office.

• How did this leader of the free world allow this to happen?

• I would imagine on a smaller scale we have all served under leaders who made a few or many poor decisions that made us scratch our heads.

• Leaders have to know how to deal with issues, make good decisions. They need to be able to see the big picture. They need to know how to put everything together so that everyone has a chance to succeed!

• Today we are going to be in the book of 1 Kings chapters 3-4. King David has died and now his son Solomon has ascended to the throne.

• In chapter 3, something special is going to happen to Solomon.

• Let us open up with our fist observation.

• SLIDE #2

SERMON

I. Wisdom is a valuable asset for a leader.

• Here is Solomon, a young man, anywhere from his late teens to very early 20’s when he seated as King. His son Rehoboam was 41 when he took the throne (1 Kings 14:21).

• He seems to be a fine young man.

• Having told us of Solomon's exceptional achievements, the author of 1 Kings tells us that Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David.

• Solomon is the only post-Davidic king said to love the Lord, which in the context of 1 Kings meant to give God exclusive loyalty, heartfelt devotion, and practical obedience. At this point Solomon was following David's example.

• We are told Solomon offered worship in the HIGH PLACE, which before the temple was complete was an acceptable practice; however, after the Temple was completed, this type of worship was not acceptable.

• Throughout the Book of 1 Kings, kings are judged by their attitude toward the high places: good kings abolish them; mediocre kings tolerate them; and evil kings patronize them.

• Solomon’s long-term commitment to the High PLACES would be a chink in his armor that would hurt him later as he allowed his many wives to lead him astray.

• SO here is Solomon, a very young man who is king. Something special is about to happen to him!

• SLIDE #3

• 1 Kings 3:4–5 (HCSB) The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”

• God comes to Solomon in a dream and asks him what should I give you?

• WOW! What would you ask for?

• Solomon tells God that he is grateful for being king, that there are a lot of people to rule and that he is young and inexperienced.

• Solomon knows he has a tough job ahead of him. He could have asked God to kill all his enemies, he could have asked for fame and fortune, he could have asked God to give him sever al hundred years of healthy life. All very tempting things to ask for.

• So here is what he asks God to give him.

• SLIDE #4

• 1 Kings 3:8–9 (HCSB) Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a people too numerous to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

• Solomon asks for wisdom, or discernment. According to the dictionary, wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment, the quality of being wise.

• Solomon KNEW that wisdom was a vital element for a leader to possess. Wisdom allows one to make good decisions, it allows them to take the knowledge they have and apply it in a proper way.

• SLIDE #5