THINK TOGETHER
Who do you know that is wise? What makes them wise?
READ TOGETHER
After King David died, his son, Solomon became the new king of Israel. And just like his father before him, Solomon loves God very much. He builds God’s temple in Israel. A giant, beautiful house for God to live among his people, and for his people to worship God. And God was very pleased with Solomon. So pleased that one day he told Solomon that he could ask for anything and God would give it to him.
What would you ask for? What do you think Solomon asked for? Money? Power? For all his enemies to be defeated?
No. Solomon didn’t ask for any of these. He asked God for wisdom. And God gave it to him. Listen to how the Bible describes it:
1 Kings 3:11-12. 11 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 12 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.
God said, “I give you a wise and discerning mind.” And he did. Solomon was considered the wisest man on earth. People came from all over the world to meet him. He collected hundreds of wise sayings called proverbs into a book called…you guessed it, Proverbs (Can you find Proverbs in your Bible?).
But what is wisdom? What does it mean to be wise like Solomon?
Some people think being wise just means being smart. But it doesn’t. And some people think being wise means you are good at solving puzzles or making choices. But it doesn’t mean that either.
In the Bible, being wise means knowing how to live in a good relationship with God, and others, and even all of creation. It means knowing how to do what is most loving and kind, and at the same time how to help people know what is right and wrong. It means you know what is most needed and most helpful for people and all God’s creatures in different situations.
The Bible also warns us about a false wisdom. It’s called “being wise in your own eyes.” This happens whenever we do what we want to do without thinking or caring about others. We all do that sometimes don’t we? And the Bible says that when we act selfishly like that we are not wise, we are fools.
Over time even Solomon stopped being wise and he became a very big fool. He stopped loving God and he stopped helping people. He started to worship false gods and idols. He mistreated the people in his kingdom. He even turned some of them into slaves. Solomon was wise for a while, but over time he became very selfish.
This is why when Jesus came to earth years later he said, “One who is greater than Solomon is here.” Jesus is not only the wisest person who ever lived, he IS the wisdom of God. Jesus is what the love and truth of God looks like. And Jesus’ death on the cross is God’s wisdom because it shows us what it means to be loved no matter what, and also it shows us the truth about our sin. It shows us how we can live with God in a right relationship with him and others when we trust in Jesus to save us from our sins.
Because of Jesus we have seen what God’s wisdom looks and acts like – like love.
With Jesus we can be wise and show others the love of God.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Check out Sovereign Grace Music’s “Walk With the Wise” album playlist.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
You are all of God’s wisdom. You showed us how to love others and how to tell the truth too. Help me to show God’s wisdom to others as I both care for them and help them to do what is right.
Amen.
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