More often we say, we should seek Wisdom from elders and pray to God for Wisdom.
What is wisdom ? when you search the web - Wisdom is not just about knowledge and understanding, however. It also involves a high level of practicality and common sense, as well as a sense of compassion and empathy for others. Wise individuals are often able to see things from multiple perspectives and are able to make decisions that take into account the needs and well-being of those around them.
So Summary can be
Wisdom = Knowledge + Practical understanding + Common Sense + Multiple dimension of a problem + Experience + etc…There are some people in the world who believe that wisdom is solely a product of human intelligence, while others attribute their wisdom to factors such as caste or lineage, as well as personal experience. However, these individuals often reject the idea that wisdom comes from God, viewing it as foolish.
But Bible tells it opposite to our worldly belief's
1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV) 'For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. '
If one thinks they are wise and intelligent, they will get frustrated by their intelligence with God’s intelligence.
1 Corinthians 1:19 (NIV) - 'For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” '
Purpose God’s Wisdom to Humans
God gives his wisdom to the one who fears him, its given to us to keep sins away and become holy like him Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. '
God’s wisdom is a mystery - Its revealed to his chosen to bring Glory of God 1 Corinthians 2:7 (NIV) - 'No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. '
God will increase the days of your life through his wisdom Proverbs 9:11 (NIV) 'For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. '
Gods wisdom is to catch the crafty - As we Sin , we get craftiness from Satan to outsmart God and find new / clever means to Sin against him, but his wisdom catches the craftiness and outwits the schemes of satan thats delivered thru man Job 5:13 (NIV) 'He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. '
Seeking God’s Wisdom
James advices us to Seek God’s wisdom is to “you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault”
James 1:5 (NIV) - 'If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. '
Advice from James may sound simple but how to follow this ?
Lets look at a practical Bible example from Life of Solomon on how he sought God’s wisdom.
Solomon Sought God’s wisdom
Solomon was established the King of Israel and Lord appears to him in a dream and asks him what he wants. His answer was “1 Kings 3:9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” '”
Full context of the above verse
1 Kings 3:5,8-9 (NIV) - 'At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” '
When God gave Solomon the wisdom, there are many spiritual lessons we need to learn from Solomon on how to earn the wisdom of God
1. Obedience to God - Solomon was very obedient to God 1 Kings 3:3 (NIV) - 'Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. '
Obedience comes only when we have love for some one, here Solomon had his Love for God
He walked according to his instructions given by his father David
Lesson for us - Same way if we need to seek God’s wisdom we have to Love God with our heart and soul and obey him to get his wisdom.
2. Humility before God - Solomon humbled before God 1 Kings 3:7 (NIV) - '“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. '
God chose to give him the wisdom as he humbled himself to a little child even though he was made the King “But I am only a little child “
He sought God’s help to carry his duties - so his dependence was with God - “… do not know how to carry out my duties.”
Lesson for us - Humble to God and depend on his ways rather than your own self desires or your own ways.
3. Ask was not worldly - After Solomon had asked God “give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” We read God was Pleased with Solomon
1 Kings 3:10-11 (NIV) - 'The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, '
Why was God pleased on this ask ? as he did not ask for Long life or Wealth of the world or death of the enemies or other things of the world - “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, '
Lesson for us - Many times our motives for asking God’s wisdom is to expand things in the world and get worldly blessing, where as God desires his wisdom to be used for eternal blessings on Prayer / Righteousness / holiness / Saving of Souls etc.. Paul explains this better 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV) - 'It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. '
4. Blessing from God -
After Solomon asked for wisdom “give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
God gave him the wisdom 1 Kings 3:12 (NIV) - 'I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. '
Blessings of God is wise and discerning heart - I will give you a wise and discerning heart
Unique wisdom - so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
God also gave him what he did not ask as well - 1 Kings 3:13 (NIV) 'Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. '
God gave him wealth and honour - the wealth that he wanted in the world, as a king he was honored, is more important
God make him high - He made him high among all the kings who existed in his times.
Lesson for Us - This is in line to what James 1:5 says to ask God, like he gave Solomon generously on Wisdom and others that he did not ask. Same way God will give more than what we ask as he is not stingy like humans, he “gives generously to all without finding fault” James 1:5 (NIV) - 'If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. '
5. God’s Pre-Condition to Blessings
Earlier we saw God - gave him two things, the wisdom and the worldly blessings / honour which he did not ask.
1 Kings 3:14 (NIV) - 'And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” '
In Verse 14 he re-emphasises the walk of Obedience to him and following him as pre-condition to his blessing, if he does that he will give a long life
Solomon wrote Proverbs - This is exactly what he wrote in Proverbs 9:11 (NIV) 'For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. '
Lesson for us -
Many times when we get the blessing of Wisdom from God, we may have a lot of pride of the wisdom and we take a lot of credit for the wisdom instead of giving Glory to God
Our love for God diminishes and slowly drifts away, leading to disobedience to God’s ways and his words. As our ears become clogged with our priorities of world.
If we utilize this wisdom to honor and exalt God, our days on earth will be abundant and plentiful.
Obedience is Key to holding the blessing from God.
God’s Wisdom
When God bless us with his wisdom it looks out completely different than what we can imagine, 1 Kings 4:29-34 (NIV) - we learn from how he blessed Solomon
1 Kings 4:29-34 (NIV) - 'God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.'
God’s wisdom is measureless as a Sand on Seashore - 1 Kings 4:29 'God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
God’s wisdom makes you a NorthStar - You will be differentiated from the pack of people whom you work / live and serve - Same was the case for Solomon 1 Kings 4:30-31 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol.
God’s Wisdom comes multiple talents - God gave Solomon 3000 Proverbs / 1005 Songs, he spoke on plant life / He spoke on animals / birds / reptiles / fish 1 Kings 4:32-33 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.
God’s wisdom for his Glory - God gives his wisdom for his glory, in the case of Solomon he sent kings to hear and seek his advice, in your case / my case he may use us differently to his calling. 1 Kings 4:34 (NIV) 'From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.'
When you read 1 Kings - we hear Queen Sheba Visiting Solomon and bring praise and Glory to God for Solomon’s wisdom 1 Kings 10:6-9 (NIV) 'She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord ’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” '
When you read 1 Kings most part lays out with his wisdom how he built a temple for God that God was pleased.
So seek his wisdom like how James asks us to do “you should ask God” while we ask God, lets have the heart like Solomon to obedient to God, honour God and do according to his will.
God will bless us more than he blessed Solomon if we are true to him and his calling.