A Wise and Discerning Heart

 

Solomon

 

I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. (1 Kings 3:12)

 

With the death of King David, the mantle of leadership passed to his son Solomon. Early in his reign as Israel's third king, Solomon had a dream in which the Lord spoke to him. Essentially, he told the new monarch, "Ask for whatever you want, and I will give it to you." Imagine such an offer. The options were staggering!

 

But Solomon didn't hesitate. He immediately requested wis-dom. "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (1 Kings 3:9). This humble response thrilled the heart of God. He granted it and added, "Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for-both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings" (1 Kings 3:13).

 

Wisdom differs from knowledge in that wisdom is "skill in living." It is knowing not just facts, but what to do in the various situations of life. According to the Bible, someone with an IQ of 180 can be a fool, while a high school dropout can be extremely wise. The difference lies in the ability to understand and live out God's truth.

 

Ask God to make you a wise person. Then spend some time today reading the wise sayings of Solomon in the book of Proverbs.

 

A lack of knowledge is not a problem; a lack of wisdom is.

 

Taken from, “One Year Life Lessons from the Bible” by Neil S. Wilson

May 20