Wisdom is not a word that gets thrown around a lot these days.
We want to be smart. We want to be attractive. We want to be likable or "have what it takes" to excel in whatever it is that we desire. It's not often that we hear someone say that their long term life goal is to be wise.
When I was 11 years old, that's what I wanted. Many of you have read my blog before and know that I grew up in a Christian household, so it's not a surprise to hear that at that age, I prayed and asked God for something. Admittedly, most 11 year olds ask for a toy, a best friend, a different set of siblings (you get the picture). But I didn't. I asked for wisdom.
In all honesty, I don't know why I did it. I don't remember having some big revolutionary thought. There was no big catastrophic event that spurred a request like that on. I just remember hearing the story of Solomon and having a desire to follow his example. I was too young to have any hesitations in asking God for something I desired. I didn't know that wisdom is something that you typically gain as an adult with experience. I can only describe my desire for wisdom at that age as something that God must have placed a desire for in my heart. And God blessed that desire and responded by saying yes.
Here's what happened with Solomon.
Solomon was the son of David. Now David had been one of the best kings that God's people had ever known. He was placed in authority by God himself, and ruled after God's own heart. This lead to countless battles one, and peace among the Nation of Israel. And despite Solomon being the second oldest son, God had chosen him to be King after David would pass.
Solomon's response was to offer the Lord one thousand burnt offerings. In response, the Lord had appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give to you." (2 Chronicles 1:7). And Solomon asked for wisdom.
So why is it that, of all the things he could have asked for, Solomon asked for wisdom? It says it best in 2 Chronicles 1:11-12. God's response was this: “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you." Solomon could have asked for anything, but his heart desired wisdom far more than anything else.
Here's the reason why I believe that wisdom is such as important attribute to have as a Christian. Solomon's desire, above all else, was to walk into what Christ had called him to, and do be a good steward of what was put in front of him. There's something here that I believe is very easy to miss. Solomon understood a key concept that we, in our American Christian culture, seem to miss. And here's what it is:
My happiness is not the key to a joy filled life. Having wealth, success, a big house or nice car, being respected in circles of people we admire, being victorious in our life battles, living a long healthy life... all of these things did not matter to Solomon. What did matter is that he was able to do what God had asked him to do to the best of his ability. That is what brings joy to life.
Lets bring this story forward to today. It has been 13 years since I asked God for wisdom. I do not claim to be a wise person. In fact, me; in my own brain; by myself, would not be considered wise by any stretch of the imagination. I've had my moments, but I am a typical 24 year old young adult who generally has no idea what is going on in life. That's not to say that the Lord hasn't been faithful in his promise. He has given me countless opportunity to use wisdom. There's something really key to wisdom that the Lord has been teaching me over the last year, and it's this.
First, wisdom does not come from experience. Experience births knowledge, which is very important, but wisdom comes only from the Lord. He is the giver of all wisdom. And he gives it to those who have a desire to follow their calling as believers to build his kingdom.
Second, accepting wisdom is a choice. In every situation we have to choice to listen to God's voice for wisdom. Sometimes we live in ignorance of his voice out of selfish disobedience. But sometimes, we just don't believe that God would actually choose to speak to us. And I will tell you now that God speaks to all those who choose to listen. The idea that God hasn't or won't speak to his children is a lie, and I encourage all those who believe that lie to seek God's voice. Find a mentor who you know already hears His voice and stop living in a lie!
Third, after hearing wisdom from the Lord, you must choose to obey. Obedience is the most difficult part of a relationship with God. It takes a lot of trust to choose to obey when other choices seem easy. Trust me when I say that obedience is the single most difficult choice that you have to make over and over again as a follower of Christ. The most difficult part of being obedient is that in doing so, you choose to let the Lord work every little infected crevasse of your heart into a healthy place. And lets just be honest and say that not only does that take humility, but it is also one of the most painful things that we have to go through. And even when we choose to be obedient, we still mess up and have to back track, which can feel really discouraging. But I can say, from personal experience, that there is nothing better than the beauty in relationship that comes from obedience. And without obedience, we grow far from hearing the voice of God, and therefore, loose all connection to hearing the wisdom that he has for us.
Do you ever look at the world and wonder why it's so messed up? I'm only 24 years old. I don't claim to be wise on my own. But the more I stretch my legs out into the world of adulthood, the more discouraged I seem to get with the world, with people and mostly with the Church. Maybe what the world needs now is not just love. Love is so important, don't get me wrong. It is at the center of who God is on a fundamental level. But when God calls leaders into positions of power, he requires not just loving leaders, but wise leaders. Don't be deceived into believing that wisdom is not for you, just because you don't feel that he has called you into a position of power. You are royalty in the eyes of the Lord. You are a son or daughter of the King, and he has entrusted you with his Kingdom here on earth. As followers of Christ, we should all be seeking the wisdom that the Lord has for us and choosing to be obedient in that.
