-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)
When Solomon became king, God gave him an incredible opportunity.
He could ask for anything.
Power.
Riches.
Military victory.
Long life.
Instead, Solomon asked for wisdom.
That request pleased God because Solomon recognized something many people never do: leadership without wisdom is dangerous.
1 Kings chapter 3 shows a young king who understood his own limitations. Solomon did not pretend to know everything. He admitted that he needed God’s help to govern rightly.
And that humility mattered.
One of the most famous moments in Solomon’s life came shortly afterward when two women came before him, both claiming the same baby as their own. Solomon’s shocking proposal revealed the true mother because real love was willing to sacrifice personal rights to preserve life.
True wisdom does more than impress people.
It reveals the heart.
That is still true today.
Our world often confuses wisdom with education, confidence, or internet knowledge. But biblical wisdom is deeper than information. Wisdom is the ability to see situations through God’s perspective and respond in ways that reflect His character.
A person can be highly educated and still make foolish decisions.
A person can speak confidently and still be spiritually blind.
Wisdom begins with recognizing our dependence upon God.
But there is also a warning quietly woven into these chapters.
Even while Solomon loved God, cracks were already forming beneath the surface. The text mentions that he married Pharaoh’s daughter and that the people were still sacrificing at the high places.
At first glance, those details may seem minor. But small compromises often become major disasters later.
Very few people wake up one morning and decide to destroy their lives. Usually, hearts drift slowly.
One tolerated compromise at a time.
One rationalization at a time.
One neglected prayer at a time.
That is why wisdom is not merely knowing what is right. Wisdom is continually choosing what is right.
Solomon’s kingdom experienced peace, prosperity, and influence unlike almost anything Israel had ever seen. Yet even the greatest earthly kingdom could not fully satisfy the human heart or permanently solve the problem of sin and death.
Like David before him, Solomon’s story ultimately points beyond himself.
The Bible’s hope is not merely that humanity would someday produce a wise king. The hope is that God would provide the perfect King — one greater than Solomon — who would rule with complete righteousness forever.
And that future kingdom still lies ahead.
Three Things to Remember
- Wisdom begins with humility.
Solomon became wise when he admitted he needed God’s help.
- Small compromises matter.
The seeds of future failure are often planted long before anyone notices them.
- Earthly success is never the final answer.
Even Solomon’s glorious kingdom could not replace humanity’s need for resurrection, restoration, and God’s coming Kingdom.
We live in a world overflowing with information but starving for wisdom.
So before asking God for more influence, more money, or more success, perhaps we should begin where Solomon did:
“Lord, give me wisdom.”
Reflection Questions
- Are you humble enough to seek and ask for wisdom?
- Consider this definition – “Wisdom is the ability to see situations through God’s perspective and respond in ways that reflect His character.” Choose a situation you have been in recently. What might wisdom see? How might wisdom respond?
- How can we learn more about God’s perspective and His character so we can more often follow in God’s wise way rather than our own often foolish way?
- What should we do, where should we be, who should we be with, while asking God for wisdom?
- What do you think is a wise judgment/decision/action you made? What is a foolish one ? What made it foolish? Were there any small compromises that led up to this foolishness?
Prayer
Dear God – I pray for wisdom. You are the wise and all-knowing, always righteous God and I need You. Help me see Your perspective and reflect Your character in both big and small decisions, judgments and actions in my life. Show me what is right and what is wrong and give me perseverance to do, think, say, choose what is right. Show me where small compromises are leading me astray.
Seek Grow Love 