Ask for Wisdom

In my annual Bible reading plan, I have come to 2 Chronicles, where Solomon asks God for wisdom. What he did NOT ask for is instructive.

• He did not ask for wealth.
• He did not ask for riches.
• He did not ask for honor.
• He did not ask for the death of his enemies.
• And he did not ask for long life.

Later, Solomon would write this proverb: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10)

Job declared the same: "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom." (Job 28:28)

David also declared the same: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalm 111:10)

Charles Spurgeon, English preacher of the 1800's, defined wisdom this way:

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."

St. Francis of Assisi said, "Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

And the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to confess: "It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Our prayers to God should include a request for His wisdom!

I confess that I mostly ask God for what I want - it would have been very understandable if Solomon would have asked for victory over his enemies, wealth or honor, or a long life, but instead he asked God for wisdom. God added all the other things to him as well.

Randy