"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." —Proverb 4:7
God asked Solomon what he wanted. Solomon's request was for
understanding and wisdom to righteously judge the people in Israel.
God was greatly pleased with the request, because Solomon didn't ask
for long life, riches, nor victory over his enemies. God gave
Solomon understanding and wisdom, and because He was pleased with
Solomon he also gave him wealth and prosperity. Every born-again
believer (Christian) should desire wisdom and understanding from the
Lord God.
1st Kings 3:5-12, "In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."
The Bible tells us to ask God for wisdom and promises that He will give it to us...
James 1:5-8, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
In James 1:6 the word “wavering” is the Greek diakrino and means “to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from, hesitate.” We find the meaning of this Scripture in Proverbs 18:1,
Proverbs 18:1-2, “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”
If we ask God for wisdom and understanding, then we need to show God we mean business by separating ourselves from the Godless television and all the things that hinder us from searching the Word of God. A fool hath no delight in understanding nor wisdom. All that most people care about is doing what is right in their own eyes, discovering their own heart. We ought to ask God for wisdom, and then continue in prayer, listening to Bible-preaching and searching the Scripture for answers. God gives wisdom to those who sincerely seek it.
James 1:8 warns that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Many people profess to be Christian and seem to want to please God in their talk, but their heart is far from God in their personal life (Matthew 15:8). They are double-minded, saying one thing while doing another.
May I say, the Bible clearly tells us the first thing that we need on our path to wisdom and knowledge... THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY!!!
Proverb 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Obtaining wisdom and understanding is not a game to God. If you mean business for God, then He will know your heart. God looks upon our heart (Proverb 24:12). Too many people these days are playing church. They fill 18-inches of pew, but never lift a finger to contend for the faith. They put a few dollars in an offering plate, but they never give of their time to share the gospel with the lost who need Christ. They are choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of this life (Luke 8:14). Few believers have zeal for the things of God (Philippians 2:21).
Jesus said we are indeed his disciples if we bear much fruit (John 15:8). Granted, God giveth the increase (1st Corinthians 3:6-9). We cannot save anybody, but the Bible teaches that the fields are ripe unto harvest. This will not last. Jesus said that as the End Times approach, that the world would once again return to the days of Noe (Noah) when faith was not found (Matthew 24:37-38). Increasingly, it's becoming harder and harder to find a Christian. People are drifting further away from the truth of God's Word every day, following false prophets instead who pervert the gospel. Proverb 11:30 says a wise man is a soul-winner.
We ought to preach the gospel and try to get as many people saved as possible. This is wisdom. God is pleased by soulwinning. Scriptural evidence is found in Romans 10:15, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” God calls the feet “beautiful” who preach the gospel. Notice that God didn't say the “lips” or the “tongue.” The most eloquent speech is worthless if one's feet do not bring the gospel to the lost. No believer who professes to have wisdom is sincere who is not concerned about the preaching of the gospel. America's seminaries (cemeteries) are filled with do-nothing, deeper-lifer, intellectual snobs who never lift a finger to proclaim the gospel to the lost for Jesus Christ.
The fear of the Lord means searching the Scriptures and obeying it! Proverb 8:13, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” No one who supports abortion-rights, same-sex marriages and gay-rights or feminist-rights has the fear of the Lord in them. The fear of the Lord is to hate abortion, homosexuality, pornography, cursing in God's name and all manner of evil. Few churchgoers hate evil these days. Many wicked church denominations are ordained gay-clergy; including, Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Methodist and Catholic churches. Wisdom is to hate pride, evil, the crooked mouth, and the arrogant way.
Most people who read the Bible fail to understand what wisdom and understand means. It means that we fear God and obey Him. Proverb 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” The Bible teaches in Hebrews 1:1-2 that God who spoke in times past through holy men of old, speaks to us today through the Word of God. This is a very important Scripture. God does not speak today's through dreams, visions nor chosen prophets, but through His Word. Titus 1:3 says that God's Word is manifest through PREACHING! Amen! The great need of our time is preaching preachers! Where is thine zeal?
Jeremiah 20:9 says that the Word of God did burn in Jeremiah's heart and he had to preach, and he did! I don't understand passive believers who have no zeal for preaching the gospel, nor zeal to contend for the faith, nor zeal to take a stand against the wickedness of our generation. The Bible ought to burn one's heart to serve the Lord with zeal!!! The television has desensitized Christians to the point where they have lost their zeal for the things of God. Turn that box off! Elijah didn't find God in the mighty wind, nor in the trembling earthquake, nor in the raging fire; but rather, in the still small voice...
1st Kings 19:11-12, “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire...
a still small voice.”
James 4:8 promises that if we draw near unto God that He will also draw near unto us. Claim that promise! Read the Verses before and after James 4:8 about submitting to God, resisting the Devil, cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts from a double-mind. God promises to give us wisdom and understanding if we truly want it. We have umpteen Scriptures telling us exactly what God expects of us. That's why God wrote the Bible, as our instruction Book.
The Holy Spirit will guide the Christian into all truth (John 16:13). No unsaved person (Christ-rejecter) can ever have wisdom and understanding from God (Romans 8:9). You must start by receiving Jesus as the Christ (John 20:31; John 1:12-13), the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16). Thank God for the gift of His dear Son and the precious blood shed for our sins (1st Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5).
May God put a desire in your heart to have wisdom and understanding... Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Him that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
