How wise was Solomon? He asked God for wisdom. As smart as he had shown himself to be to this point in his life, he recognized the fact that he did not know it all. He recognized that he didn’t know enough for the multitude of projects and tasks before him. 

Solomon understood his best strength. He also understood that his best strength was not yet fully developed. He saw himself for who he was and for who he wanted to become. 

When God said, “Ask. What should I give you,” Solomon had a ready reply. He needed wisdom.

“Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people.”

Solomon later became so full of wisdom and knowledge that kings, along with a notable queen, came to listen to him teach, to ask him questions, to listen to his answers, and to learn from his mind palace stuffed full of rare and beautiful treasures. 

This text tells us how he started on his journey toward knowing it all. He began with one simple request. His request was not for wisdom and knowledge as tandem tools to place in his toolbox so that he could use them whenever a need arose. He asked for a specific kind of wisdom and knowledge.

“Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people.”

Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge “so that I may lead these people.” Leadership, especially at Solomon’s level, requires knowing what to do and how to do it. It also requires the wisdom of knowing what not to do accompanied by when to move, when to pause, and when to take a step back. 

This is a much more diverse toolkit than a hammer and a nail. Every leader at every level should continually master the diverse set of tools necessary for every kind of leadership responsibility. 

My friend John reminded me of Stephen Covey’s leadership trio of mindset, skillset, and toolset. Leaders who stop growing in each of these areas soon stop leading. As John Wooden said so beautifully, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

Solomon was wise to ask for wisdom and knowledge. These were gifts God delighted in giving him. Solomon used those gifts well for a long time. Then, one day, he didn’t. If you didn’t already know the rest of his story, could you predict what would happen next? 

Today, and every day, is a good day to ask God for wisdom and knowledge. It is also a good day to commit to becoming a lifelong learner. It is a good day to root out any tendency in your heart that draws you away from wise and knowledgeable decisions and behavior. 

Just in case you are tempted to believe that only Solomon and a few others are capable of receiving and applying God’s wisdom, turn to the New Testament book of James. In 1:5, we read these words: 

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him.”

God is ready to give you all the wisdom and knowledge you need to live a life that honors him and serves others. He gives generously. He gives joyfully. He is ready to give his best gifts right now. Now, there is some news you can use.

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I will ask God for wisdom and knowledge for the specific issues I face today. And I will put this request on repeat day after day for all of the rest of my days.

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Our Father, thank you for generously and joyfully giving us the gifts of wisdom and knowledge. As we look at what we see before us today, as we prepare for those inevitable occurrences that we cannot predict, bless us with the wisdom and knowledge we need to make the right choices, to take the right actions, and to trust you with the results. Amen.