1 Kings 3-4

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1 Kings chapters 3 and 4 tells is of Solomon's wisdom. We read that after the death of his father, David, Solomon heard from the Lord in a dream at night.

In this dream, the Lord said, “Ask what I shall give you.” In that moment, Solomon could have asked for wealth, power, and prestige. But he did not. He asked for wisdom. And because he asked for wisdom, the Lord gave him the things that Solomon did not ask for.

"And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 Kings 3:11-4)

So we see that God values wisdom. How much do we value wisdom? Do we invest time in God's Word on a daily basis? Do we ask for wisdom from the Lord in our prayers? James writes:

^"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
(James 1:5-8)

Solomon later wrote: "Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."
(Proverbs 23:23)

Are we spending our money on good Christian books? Books that discuss and apply Scripture to our lives, and seek to instill in us a Christian worldview. Or are we focusing on things that are trivial.

John Piper said, "Television is trivial. Radio is trivial. Conversation is trivial. Education is trivial. Christian books are trivial. Worship styles are trivial. ....the human heart, which was made to be staggered with the supremacy of Christ, ...instead is drowning in a sea of banal entertainment..."

We live in an age in which we have the most Bible translations, most access to Christian books, and with the advent of the Internet, a host of free online resources such as sermons, and Christian web sites. Yet, so often we can waste time by watching YouTube videos for hours and hours on end.

Christ came not so that we would be entertained by the trivialities of the world, rather, that we could and would glorify Him with our lives. (Isaiah 43:7)

Paul writes, "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)

So Christ is our wisdom. We should strive to know and love Him more each day and to grow in His wisdom.

There are many other things that I could have discussed about Solomon in today's chapters. For example, it is a shame that the wisest man in the world is already breaking the laws of God. (See Deuteronomy 17:6 and Deuteronomy 7:3-4) To me, Solomon started out strong but succumbed to the temptations of life. He did not finish strong.

As we read about Solomon, let us realize that wisdom is not what we should boast of, but we should only boast in God.

"Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.