If God Granted Us Just One Wish…
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest blogger)
Week 38
Scripture Readings: 2 Chronicles 1-5
Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 1: 10 (NIV, Life Application Bible)
“Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
God has given favor to his servant David who has been faithful to him and now he bestows favor on David’s son, Solomon, whom David has established as his successor as king of Israel. Just after Solomon has offered burnt offerings to God, God appears to him and asks him for his heart’s desire and says he intends to grant whatever Solomon wishes.
Remember all the childhood stories of Aladdin’s lamp and the genie who grants three wishes? In those stories, if I recall them correctly, the best wish is to wish for unlimited wishes to be granted. But, it’s a self-serving wish, isn’t it?
It seems to me that Solomon had already been blessed with a good heart and some level of wisdom, because what he asks for is very wise—wisdom and knowledge in order to be able to be the leader that God would want him to be.
God was more than pleased with Solomon’s request and made it clear that he would bless Solomon not only with the wisdom and knowledge he requested, but that he would be blessed with all the comforts of wealth, honor, and possessions he could ever desire and then some.
Throughout history, Solomon has been considered to be the wisest of all people. And, luckily for us, we have access to his teachings through the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Should we seek wisdom, we would find much of it there.
My Bible’s commentary (NIV, Life Application Bible) reminds us that Jesus also told us that he who seeks wisdom and truth will find it and that when God’s priorities are put first, we can ask anything in His name and it will be given to us according to our needs (Matthew 6:33—when speaking of necessities of food and clothing, Jesus says not to worry about these—v.33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and these things will be given to you as well.”)
It is a wise person who puts God first. He is in control. Everything we have, he has allowed us to have. He created it, he owns it. And he wants only what is best for us. Jesus said that his purpose for coming was that we live the most abundant lives possible.
God loves us. God wants what is best for us at all times. He wants to be a part of our lives, wants to be in relationship with us. He wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. If we are wise, we accept his love and follow his commands.
If we could only be wise enough to get out of our own way and pray for God’s grace and wisdom to do his will and to follow him more nearly every day!
IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 