In 1 Kings 5, we read a profound verse that makes all of us who lead God’s people yearn to happen for us this year, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.” Wow! That is an incredible gift from God to Solomon who asked for it back in 1 Kings 3-one that we need more than anything else in the leadership space. The question is how do you and I tap into that same well of wisdom. The beauty of this text is that God preserves in the verses that follow WHY God did such a thing and why He would do such a glorious, take-your-breath-away thing again.
God gives distinctive wisdom to leaders like Solomon and us for the following reasons:
1) To help us excel above other god-worshipping leaders for the one true God’s glory.
1 Ki 4:30-31 “And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.”
2) To help us deepen and diversify our initiated worship of the Lord.
1 Ki 4:32 “And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.”
3) To help us understand and celebrate His creation more fully.
1 Ki 4:33 “And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.”
4) To help us organically attract the world of our day to the God who yearns for all to know Him-ultimate wisdom.
1 Ki 4:34 “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”
It is less about what you know and more about why you want to know it. Too many of us want wisdom for selfish reasons that are more about us where we should have sanctified ones that are all about the Lord. Will you join me in the new year with these inspired, lofty motivations that unleash the infinite wisdom of God in our lives like the sands on the sea shore? As one author put it, “Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens.” Stop talking and listen to why God would want to give you wisdom and then wisely align with those divine motivations. What follows will be a “win win” for God first and then not only you but those who follow you.
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