Describe one positive change you have made in your life.
“behold, I have done for you according to your words, and I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so much so that there has been no one like you before you, nor anyone who will rise up after you.”
1 Kings 3:12
When we think of great men of Scripture, many are turned to the story of King Solomon the Wise, given the gift of incredible wisdom, wealth, and reputation. But an often missed portion of the story is Solomon is the ending of his reign.
In 1 Kings 11, Solomon is described having gathered a treasure trove of all kinds of wealth, marrying hundreds of women, engaging in idolatry, and ultimately, earning the punishments of God. All of this resulted in God taking the kingdom of Israel away from Solomon’s son, splitting it in two, triggering events that would collapse Israel and sending its people into exile.
We often turn to God asking for all manner of benefits. Things that we can turn to our favor, and elevate us. But repeatedly, God asks us for only one, simple thing: obedience. You see, Solomon, for all his wisdom, could not help being ensnared by sin. The most knowledgeable, a man whose wisdom is described as incomparable, who had no way to justify his wrongdoing, still fell to sin.
And we see in scripture, time and time again, the negative consequences of our sin. We make enemies, harm ourselves or the people around us, damage our futures.
No one is perfect. We’ve all sinned, we’ve all fallen short. But if we love God, it should show in our actions. So rather than asking God for the gift of wisdom, I ask God to help me be obedient. The outcome of that is my life has become much more challenging, but much more peaceful as well.
I’ve spent more time listening to and reading Scripture than I ever had before. My heart has been opened up to a lot of things that I have been doing wrong, and a lot of things that I didn’t realize were wrong. My perception of the world has shifted, and I find myself pursuing better, kinder, more fruitful behaviors.
And in doing this, in truly setting my heart on obedience, I’ve found myself pursuing my studies harder. I’ve also been much more dedicated to sharing the things I learn, and being engaged more with the people around me. My discipline and focus have improved, and perhaps, just maybe, I can become more wise as well.
And maybe, dear reader, you can too. Be blessed, and may everything you do glorify God.
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