If you could ask God for anything ∙∙

If you could ask God for anything ∙∙

God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” – 2 Chronicles 1:7

Psalms 119:96-100

96 Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.
97 Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.

98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I always think of your laws.
100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.

Many of us know the story of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, famously retold by Walt Disney Pictures in 2019. It’s the tale of a poor street boy who stumbles upon a magical lamp. When he rubs the lamp, a genie emerges, offering to grant him three wishes. A world of possibilities suddenly opens for Aladdin.

We recognize this as a fairytale—there are no magic lamps or genies in real life. Yet, there is a Father in heaven, the living God. Unlike the genie of legend, He engages with His people in profound and personal ways, responding to prayers and sometimes revealing Himself through dreams, visions, or even directly in person. At the start of Solomon’s reign, the Father appeared in a dream (1 Kings 3:5) and gave him an incredible opportunity. He essentially asked him to “make a wish.”

The Father initiated a personal dialogue with Solomon, asking a straightforward yet life-changing question, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” (2 Chronicles 1:7). This moment feels reminiscent of the fabled genie’s offer in the story of Aladdin. Notably, Solomon’s request reveals his character and the priorities of his heart. His decision was a valuable example for us to emulate.

2 Chronicles 1:7-10 highlights this interaction:

7 God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
10 “Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”

What can the children of the King learn from Solomon? How can we continually grow in wisdom and consistently make excellent decisions? Solomon teaches us that when we pursue righteousness and nurture wisdom, God often blesses us in extraordinary ways. Solomon’s choices were guided by the desire to lead with understanding, and his example serves as a powerful model for us to emulate.
2 Chronicles 1:11-12 records God’s response to Solomon’s request:

11 God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people properly.”
12 “I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”

What is wisdom? It is a unique and fascinating concept, yet simultaneously, it is somewhat of an oddity. On one hand, wisdom is a divine gift that God has freely bestowed on many throughout history. On the other hand, wisdom is also a skill that can be developed and refined over time.

The Hebrew word translated as wisdom is chokma. Chokma can be understood as “skill for living.” It is the ability to apply knowledge in a thoughtful, discerning, and practical way. Wisdom reflects seeing life through God’s eyes—understanding situations from His perspective. The Father, being all-knowing and omnipresent, comprehends all things perfectly.

Wisdom is the extraordinary capacity to understand, discern, and make sound decisions instinctively. It provides deep insight into human thoughts, feelings, and motives (John 2:24-25). When wisdom takes root in someone’s heart and mind, it fosters discernment, sharp judgment, shrewdness, and the practical ability to act sagaciously and thoughtfully in various situations.

God’s wisdom is hidden from much of the world, but He is eager to reveal it to His children. He delights in sharing it with anyone who seeks Him wholeheartedly.

REFLECT & PRAY

Psalms 51:6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being and want me to possess wisdom.

Father, I long to grow in wisdom. Help me spend meaningful time in Your Word, nurture wisdom in my life, and make wiser choices as I walk through this world.

INSIGHT

The best news is that anyone can grow in wisdom—no matter their starting point, whether simple, naïve, slow, average, or quite limited. God delights in giving wisdom to the humble (Psalm 19:7). Wisdom is available to all who seek it as long as they open their hearts and minds to the Word of God. The path to wisdom begins with forming a genuine relationship with the living God and applying His truth in everyday life.

King David serves as a prime illustration of a person who pursued and gained wisdom.

Psalms 119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

Where did David’s wisdom originate? It certainly wasn’t from conversing with sheep. Sheep aren’t known for their engaging dialogues and have a minimal vocabulary. During the countless hours David spent alone tending his flock, he filled the solitude with the presence of God. He devoted himself to studying God’s Word, memorizing it, and treasuring it deeply within his heart, committing it to memory, locking it forever within his heart.

Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

Psalms 119:100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your precepts.

David clearly possessed an exceptional mind, but his wisdom did not stem from intellect alone. His extraordinary discernment and decision-making flowed from his commitment to God’s Word. Day and night, he meditated on the scriptures, internalizing their truths. This devotion made David wiser than his teachers and elders. His life was a testament to how faith, knowledge of God’s Word, and lived experience combined to form a deep, profound understanding. He had extraordinary tolerance for the ambiguities and uncertainties of life. David consistently demonstrated resilience and courage, facing life’s uncertainties with faith and clarity. Over decades, he overcame trials and emerged stronger, not merely surviving but thriving.

Every child of God has access to the vast, inexhaustible source of divine wisdom. However, the level of wisdom we achieve depends on how we choose to spend our time. It is up to us to draw from this well of knowledge and shape our lives in alignment with God’s truth. We determine how we utilize our time and allocate our hours. Only we can choose for ourselves how much time we spend reading, meditating upon, and memorizing the word of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.

In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is personified. Wisdom seeks us to make us wise.

Proverbs 1:20-25

20 Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:
22 “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?”
23 “Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.”
24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. “
25 “You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.”

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand” (Albert Einstein). An intelligent man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from others’ mistakes. What does a fool learn from his mistakes?

If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?

Imagine for a moment what your life could be like if you memorized and internalized His eternal Word of God.

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© Dr. H 2024