Seeking Wisdom
(3 Minute Read)
By Heidi Schartner
Who do you go to for advice?
There’s a small circle of believers to whom I bring my biggest concerns. These are also the same people with whom I share my greatest joys. Whether bad or good, I go to them. But why is that?
First of all, they listen. They give me space to talk. Second, they ask questions before offering anything else. They dig deep to ensure they understand. Third, the advice they give is God-based. It isn’t a short term fix. They also push back when they think I’m listening to my own heart instead of God’s voice.
I’m truly thankful for this group, but I also know the One with whom I need to spend the most time - the One I should turn to first.
I haven’t heard a lot of sermons on King Solomon and yet his story holds vital truths for each of us. The first is his posture when speaking to God. He is fully aware that he is God’s servant and that his position is only his because God made it that way. 1 Kings 3:7 says, “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.”
It is good to be reminded that the roles we have in children’s ministry are God-ordained. Not only because it keeps us humble but because we know we don’t have to do it on our own! If the king of an empire calls himself a servant, I think it behooves us to do the same.
Solomon then continues to ask God for discernment. I love this word. LOVE it. Why? Because it doesn’t mean being a bossy pants. No, it means taking time to listen AND understand.
There is far too little listening and understanding in our society and we as believers (especially those who work in ministry) have to take time to understand what is actually going on. Solomon continues in1 Kings 3:9, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
Solomon also puts God’s wisdom into action and people notice. Because his heart is in the right place, people are drawn to listen to him.
You might be in a position where families are eager to hear from you. Or, it might be a battle for you right now - maybe you feel like a lone soldier. When we turn to God for wisdom and rely on him to guide us, the words spoken WILL NOT fall on deaf ears. You might not get the reaction you were hoping for, but not speaking truth just isn’t an option. 1 Kings 3:28 tells us, “When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.”
I pray you have a circle you can count on. I pray that your church community is willing to hear biblical truth. But most importantly, I pray you turn to God for wisdom. The same God who was there for Solomon is the same God who is there for us!