5 Signs of a Lack of Wisdom
In our culture where it seems like everyone has the right answer and can flock to the internet to share their opinions as facts, it’s hard to know who or what we should consider to be wise from a biblical point of view. The wisdom of Solomon is found in 1 Kings 4:29-30, and is a great example of how we can seek God for genuine wisdom.
God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus, Solomon’s wisdom excelled over the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Gifts and talents are from God and are to be used and stewarded for His benefit. When we forget where our abilities come from, we risk losing it all.
This leads us to look at the five signs that show we might be lacking wisdom:
Signs of Lack of Wisdom
- You care more about the moment than the outcome.
- ∙You don’t have the desire to grow or learn anything new.
- ∙You are impulsive and impromptu.
- ∙You live in past mistakes and memories.
- ∙You are impressed by what the world has to offer.
If you think that you might have some of these signs, don’t worry. God can grant your heart and mind wisdom and understanding just as He did for Solomon. Scripture tells us Solomon approached God with an open heart, desiring to know more of Him. 1 Kings 3:3-14 reads:
And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. 4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”
6 And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
Solomon was the son of David and his maidservant, Bathsheba. I can only imagine the pressure on this newly appointed king. Solomon knew he had been chosen by both his father, David, and the prophet of God, Nathan. But now he needed wisdom to rule the nation. The Bible tells us that in one moment, Solomon is marrying Pharaoh’s daughter and bringing her back to the City of David so he can complete the building of the house of God. All along, sacrificing burned incense in high places. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, Ask! What shall I give you?
We can see the pull of conviction already being played out in this King’s life. A foreign wife, burnt incense, and then a request that God would give him an understanding heart to judge the people, knowing what is right and what is wrong. What Solomon was asking for was wisdom.
I love this account in the bible because it is so real. The power to make decisions as a king is obvious. But the choice to rely on God for wisdom is brilliant.
Wisdom cannot be taught or bought. It must be sought. Only God can give us wisdom. And as we see, it does not come with a lifetime warranty. It must be asked for and received day by day.
To learn more about Tammy Hotsenpiller’s Fasting For a Change, visit MyCharismaShop.com