Wisdom, that’s my final answer.

Friday, January 30, 2015

This is the second part of "Who will you become in 2015?" I pray it blesses you! - Cintia

Last time we were together we talked about the fact that “it’s not about what happens to you in 2015, it’s about who you become with God’s help.” Today we are going to continue that thought but we’ll get more practical. My goal is to help you recognize that no matter what questions life throws at you, your response should clearly be “wisdom, that’s my final answer.”


If life was a game show, I think it might be very much like Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Remember that show? Contestants are presented with 14 questions of increasing difficulty and they are given 4 multiple choice answers and well as 3 lifelines.


Today I want to talk about Solomon, a guy who was so smart he probably came up with all of the questions on Millionaire.


In 1 King 3 we see him in the beginning of his reign as King, loving, worshipping God and offering sacrifices.


4-5 The king went to Gibeon, the most prestigious of the local shrines, to worship. He sacrificed a thousand Whole-Burnt-Offerings on that altar. That night, there in Gibeon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream: God said, “What can I give you? Ask.”
Solomon is obviously trying to do God’s will and we find him worshiping. He goes to sleep and God appears to him in a dream asking him the million dollar question. Let’s see what Solomon’s answer was.
6 Solomon said, “You were extravagantly generous in love with David my father, and he lived faithfully in your presence, his relationships were just and his heart right. And you have persisted in this great and generous love by giving him—and this very day!—a son to sit on his throne.
Did you know that your children are watching your relationship with God? What will they learn from us? Solomon watched his father David serve God with all he had and he also saw how God treated David in return. What are the silent lessons we’re teaching our children when it comes to our relationship with God? In Solomon’s family it wasn’t about having a perfect image but having a heart that was undividedly in love towards God. Solomon goes on with his request:
7-8 “And now here I am: God, my God, you have made me, your servant, ruler of the kingdom in place of David my father. I’m too young for this, a mere child! I don’t know the ropes, hardly know the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of this job. And here I am, set down in the middle of the people you’ve chosen, a great people—far too many to ever count.
9 “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?”
Can you tell the tone of humility in Solomon’s request? He asks for wisdom to lead well. Let’s see what God says.
10-14 God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon’s response. And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after. As a bonus, I’m giving you both the wealth and glory you didn’t ask for—there’s not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I’ll also give you a long life.”
Friends, God knows our hearts. He hears our requests and He is also aware of the things we are not asking for. God tells Solomon, I will not only give you wisdom but I will give you what you did not ask for. Ephesians 3:20 says “now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,” God’s generosity is beyond measure. Do you see how His character is? Let’s finish the story:
15 Solomon woke up—what a dream! He returned to Jerusalem, took his place before the Chest of the Covenant of God, and worshiped by sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings. Then he laid out a banquet for everyone in his service.
He goes back home, worships and then he celebrates with his staff.
God is asking you and I the same question he asked Solomon. Our answer must be: wisdom, that’s my final answer.
No matter what God wants you and I to become in 2015, our answer must be: wisdom, that’s my final answer.
The way to get from where we are to where we need to be is by receiving Godly wisdom. It worked for Solomon and it works for us today. God is our source of wisdom so we can be present, patient, abundant in peace and forgiveness and intentional with our time.
Here’s how it works in real life. Let’s take “peace” for example.
  1. Ask - the Bible says 5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 (ESV)
  2. Wait for the answer - God will often show you the root of your problem so that you can have some real relief from your problem. In my case, I often overwhelm myself with a busy schedule and my peace leaves quickly. The solution was to learn to pace myself and prioritize my life. I also learned that rest leads to a more peaceful life. I also looked for all kinds of Bible scriptures related to Peace. * kids at Christmas
  3. Take Baby Steps - some of us want to be more present for example and that will happen in baby steps. I believe that wisdom manifests in our lives in baby steps, I believe we grow in wisdom so if our goal is to be more present. Pray and ask God what is the first thing you need to do. He might lead you to start by connecting with the person who is talking to you instead of nervously think about your 16-task to-do list. He might encourage you to look at that person in the eye and really listen. We might not get it right all the time but remember, we grow in wisdom.


I believe that God speaks through His Word and He is our primary source of wisdom. Don’t go to the internet before you go God. I think that we’ll save a lot of time and heartache if we ask God for wisdom before we freak out and scare our friends with our desperation. Remember, always to go God first.


God also uses His people to give us the wisdom we need. I’ve mentioned to you how Sue Bridges, one of our mentor moms gave me some much needed wisdom that really blessed my life.  


No matter where you go, get in the habit of praying for wisdom for yourself and others. Every time I go to the doctor I pray that God will give those professionals wisdom to help my family and I. I also pray that God will give wisdom to my children’s teachers. I pray that God will give wisdom to my husband as the leader of our family.
Going back to you and Solomon. We’re obviously not sitting in a palace but we are the leaders of our household. Like Solomon we humbly come to God saying “I don’t know what to do so give me a God-listening heart, a wise heart so I can be the woman you have called me to be in this season of life.” Friends, once you ask in faith, God will give it to you and I can’t wait to hear just how He does it.