The Requests We Don’t Make Can Please God
I want to spend a little more time looking at Solomon’s request for wisdom and the Lord’s response. For in this moment we are given a spiritual truth we may overlook.
1 Kings 3:10-11 (ESV) It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,...
The Lord is pleased with Solomon’s request for wisdom for the sake of God’s people. But the Lord is also pleased with the fact that Solomon does NOT ask for wealth, riches or fame. Note the both/and of this moment.
Yes. There are prayers we don’t pray that please God. Now I don’t want us to get anxious here. We are also commanded to pray about everything (Philippians 4:8). But let’s remember Solomon is already king and very wealthy. His request for more wealth would have been beyond the pale. Why ask for more of what you already have? Solomon knew that all the money and power in the world is NOTHING compared to the wisdom God can give.
He would write about this in Proverbs:
Proverbs 8:11 (ESV) for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Proverbs 16:16 (ESV) How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
All you have to do is watch one of those documentaries on lottery winners to know that you can gain great wealth and end up broke really quick. Wisdom can secure what wealth only appears to secure.
I thought about this moment and had to ask myself. In what prayers am I asking for what God has already given me enough of? Perhaps I need more wisdom with what I already have instead of more of whatever it is. Perhaps I also need to be a diligent steward and take note of what God has already given me. That is what Solomon does in this prayer. He knows all He has is from the Lord. Now he wants to know how to manage it.
In the end, I think we can learn well here from Solomon’s request in many ways. God is ready to give us more than we imagine. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” And Christ Himself is the source of all wisdom: Colossians 2:3 (ESV) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The prayers we should pray are prayers for the true source of wisdom. Jesus Christ. Let us pursue more of Him. Let us delve into the Word to discover and adore Him. Let us draw near to Him. And then, let us thank Him. As with Solomon here, in anticipation of the answer, he gave thanks.
1 Kings 3:15 (ESV) And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
1 Kings 3:10-11 (ESV) It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,...
The Lord is pleased with Solomon’s request for wisdom for the sake of God’s people. But the Lord is also pleased with the fact that Solomon does NOT ask for wealth, riches or fame. Note the both/and of this moment.
Yes. There are prayers we don’t pray that please God. Now I don’t want us to get anxious here. We are also commanded to pray about everything (Philippians 4:8). But let’s remember Solomon is already king and very wealthy. His request for more wealth would have been beyond the pale. Why ask for more of what you already have? Solomon knew that all the money and power in the world is NOTHING compared to the wisdom God can give.
He would write about this in Proverbs:
Proverbs 8:11 (ESV) for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Proverbs 16:16 (ESV) How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
All you have to do is watch one of those documentaries on lottery winners to know that you can gain great wealth and end up broke really quick. Wisdom can secure what wealth only appears to secure.
I thought about this moment and had to ask myself. In what prayers am I asking for what God has already given me enough of? Perhaps I need more wisdom with what I already have instead of more of whatever it is. Perhaps I also need to be a diligent steward and take note of what God has already given me. That is what Solomon does in this prayer. He knows all He has is from the Lord. Now he wants to know how to manage it.
In the end, I think we can learn well here from Solomon’s request in many ways. God is ready to give us more than we imagine. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” And Christ Himself is the source of all wisdom: Colossians 2:3 (ESV) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The prayers we should pray are prayers for the true source of wisdom. Jesus Christ. Let us pursue more of Him. Let us delve into the Word to discover and adore Him. Let us draw near to Him. And then, let us thank Him. As with Solomon here, in anticipation of the answer, he gave thanks.
1 Kings 3:15 (ESV) And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
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