2 Chronicles 1: 7-12 (excerpts), 9:22-23 (NIV) That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered God, “…Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “…therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.” … King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
James 1:5-8 (NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance contains 233 listings for the word wisdom used in King James text. Not surprisingly, the authors Job, Solomon, and Paul have the highest usage. Now I’m not the brightest bulb in the box, as they say, but I do know there is a distinct difference between wisdom and knowledge. Just for fun, let’s look at a few synonyms for, and including, knowledge.
· knowledge: an acquaintance with facts
· learning: an acquired skill
· erudition: learning acquired by reading and studying
· sagacity: penetratingly shrewd intelligence
What I know is this—one can have all the book knowledge, head knowledge, facts, data, and definitions stuffed in their head, and still not be a very wise person. Wisdom is more of a quality or character trait. It is the ability to make good choices and sound judgments with discretion and prudence based upon all the “stuff” (i.e., knowledge) one knows. Solomon knew there was a difference between wisdom and knowledge and he asked God for both. God granted Solomon’s request and gave him both wisdom and knowledge.
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV) For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
What I find amazing is that God will still provide wisdom today to anyone who will ask. There is a caution attached; namely, that one should be faithful to God alone. Trying to juggle faith in God and loyalty to worldly pursuits doesn’t work—don’t anticipate positive results. True wisdom begins with understanding who God is in contrast to who we are.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Forgive us when we become so enamored with our own acquisition of knowledge that we fail to recognize our lack of wisdom. Furthermore, when we pray for wisdom—more specifically, when I pray for wisdom—grant that I might receive the amount of wisdom you trust me to handle according to the purposes you have planned for me. In all that I think, say, do, or write, may I display the wisdom that comes first by acknowledging you as Almighty God, Creator, and my Heavenly Father.
In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional Requesting Wisdom appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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