1 Kings 3:5-9
When I became the lead pastor of Emmanuel, I was in my 30s. I had never been a lead pastor until that moment. The church was roughly 300 people, and it was a bit intimidating at first. I distinctly remember a conversation that I had with Tami at that time where she said to me: “You’re good with teens, but are you sure you are good with adults?” To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure, but I was sure of the fact that this is what God wanted for our lives. I remember asking God to help me and really trying to take a humble approach to my new position. I didn’t take it for granted, and neither did Solomon.
When God offered Solomon whatever he wanted, Solomon did the unthinkable. Imagine the whole “genie in a bottle” scenario where you have a wish that WILL COME TRUE. That was Solomon, except this was no genie offering him this, it was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What would you have asked for at that moment? What did Solomon ask for at that moment? He asked for wisdom over wealth, purpose over power, and commitment over comfort. He asked for God’s will!
As you go through your day, and even your week, is the will of God your focus, or is it your own will? Many disciples of Jesus masquerade around as “faithful servants,” when in fact, they are really focused on their own decisions and desires. I recently ran into a now young adult whose parents used to come to Emmanuel. At one time, the father of this young adult was a good friend of mine. I even discipled him for a season. Reality would eventually show me that he wasn’t interested in God’s will. He was interested in God’s blessings as he sought his own will. As I spoke to his daughter, a flood of sadness overwhelmed me. I’m not even sure if she truly knows Jesus, and in reality, I am not even sure if her father or mother do either. It doesn’t have to be this way. It wasn’t with Solomon, at least in the beginning of his reign as Israel’s king.
What Solomon quickly realized was that “to whom much is given, much is required.” God had given him this unbelievable opportunity to lead the Israelites, and he needed to take that job seriously. Therefore, he needed God’s wisdom, God’s strength, and God’s discernment to accomplish such a huge task. What about you and me? We may not be the king or queen of a nation, but many of us are parents. Most of us are married. Some of us lead businesses. We should all be serving in ministry. What this means is that there are people who need our influence. Your kids don’t need more activities; they need your loving leadership in their lives. Your spouse doesn’t need more money to spend; she needs your gracious attention.
One of the most important moments in Solomon’s choice to ask for wisdom was a realistic view of himself. He was not overconfident in any way. In fact, he saw himself as “young and inexperienced” and in need of “outside help.” He didn’t try to “push through” in arrogance. Instead, he demonstrated great humility by asking God for help in his new leadership role. I wonder about you and me. Are we humble enough to ask God and others for help? When God gives you a tremendous opportunity no matter what it is, always be someone who is “teachable.” When I became the lead pastor of Emmanuel, I knew that I had a lot to learn. In fact, I went to past mentors and others who I could trust for wisdom and help. Looking back at that time in my life, I probably could have used even more help. Make sure that you are always willing to be a “learner” for the sake of those who you are leading.
Life truly can be reduced to a series of many choices. We make choices every day that have consequences. Some more than others. One thing is for sure; you and I need wisdom to lead our hearts, our families, and our “circles of influence.” Make it a plan (if you’re not already doing it) to wake up in the morning every day and ask God for wisdom for that day. As I always tell my kids: “There is no such thing as a throw-away-day!”
When God offered Solomon whatever he wanted, Solomon did the unthinkable. Imagine the whole “genie in a bottle” scenario where you have a wish that WILL COME TRUE. That was Solomon, except this was no genie offering him this, it was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What would you have asked for at that moment? What did Solomon ask for at that moment? He asked for wisdom over wealth, purpose over power, and commitment over comfort. He asked for God’s will!
As you go through your day, and even your week, is the will of God your focus, or is it your own will? Many disciples of Jesus masquerade around as “faithful servants,” when in fact, they are really focused on their own decisions and desires. I recently ran into a now young adult whose parents used to come to Emmanuel. At one time, the father of this young adult was a good friend of mine. I even discipled him for a season. Reality would eventually show me that he wasn’t interested in God’s will. He was interested in God’s blessings as he sought his own will. As I spoke to his daughter, a flood of sadness overwhelmed me. I’m not even sure if she truly knows Jesus, and in reality, I am not even sure if her father or mother do either. It doesn’t have to be this way. It wasn’t with Solomon, at least in the beginning of his reign as Israel’s king.
What Solomon quickly realized was that “to whom much is given, much is required.” God had given him this unbelievable opportunity to lead the Israelites, and he needed to take that job seriously. Therefore, he needed God’s wisdom, God’s strength, and God’s discernment to accomplish such a huge task. What about you and me? We may not be the king or queen of a nation, but many of us are parents. Most of us are married. Some of us lead businesses. We should all be serving in ministry. What this means is that there are people who need our influence. Your kids don’t need more activities; they need your loving leadership in their lives. Your spouse doesn’t need more money to spend; she needs your gracious attention.
One of the most important moments in Solomon’s choice to ask for wisdom was a realistic view of himself. He was not overconfident in any way. In fact, he saw himself as “young and inexperienced” and in need of “outside help.” He didn’t try to “push through” in arrogance. Instead, he demonstrated great humility by asking God for help in his new leadership role. I wonder about you and me. Are we humble enough to ask God and others for help? When God gives you a tremendous opportunity no matter what it is, always be someone who is “teachable.” When I became the lead pastor of Emmanuel, I knew that I had a lot to learn. In fact, I went to past mentors and others who I could trust for wisdom and help. Looking back at that time in my life, I probably could have used even more help. Make sure that you are always willing to be a “learner” for the sake of those who you are leading.
Life truly can be reduced to a series of many choices. We make choices every day that have consequences. Some more than others. One thing is for sure; you and I need wisdom to lead our hearts, our families, and our “circles of influence.” Make it a plan (if you’re not already doing it) to wake up in the morning every day and ask God for wisdom for that day. As I always tell my kids: “There is no such thing as a throw-away-day!”
Posted in Devotional