GOD’S WISDOM AND SUCCESS
The Bible says: “The fear [reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). And “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” to succeed (Proverbs 3:6).
SOLOMON IS A BIBLE-EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO SOUGHT THE LORD AND WAS GIVEN WISDOM AND SUCCESS.
Solomon, King David’s son, was only a boy when he succeeded his father to the throne of Israel. He showed his reverence for and reliance upon the Lord, when he prayed to God:
O 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… So, give your servant a discerning
heart to govern your people and to distinguish between
right and wrong (1 Kings 3:7, 9).
GOD GAVE SOLOMON EXECPTIONAL WISDOM. Because Solomon’s request pleased God, He gave him exceptional discernment and wisdom (1 Kings 3: 10-13). An example of Solomon’s God-given wisdom is seen in his judging between two women, each claiming one baby was her own. Both women had given birth while sleeping in the same room; but one rolled over and killed her baby. When awakened the next morning the real mother knew her baby had been stolen by the other woman. She took her case before King Solomon.
Solomon ordered the live baby to be cut in half and divided among the two women. One woman said give the other woman the living child. Solomon ordered that the living child be given to the woman who wanted it to live. All the people stood in awe of the king because they saw that God’s wisdom was in him to carry out justice (1 King 3:28).
THE LORD ALSO GAVE SOLOMON UNEQUALLED RICHES. Because Solomon’s request for wisdom to lead God’s people pleased Him, God also gave Solomon great wealth, which he did not ask for (1 Kings 3: 10-13).
“King Solomon was greater in wisdom and riches than all the other kings of the earth. Royalties from the whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift – articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules” (1 Kings 10:23-25).
However, for all his great wisdom and riches, Solomon learned: “All is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). He exclaimed, what does a person gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?–The wise and the rich die like the fool and the poor (Ecclesiastes 1-2).
Solomon writes in his book of wisdom “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Think about him in all your ways, and he will guide you on the right paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The Lord said: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [God-approved] things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). For “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” (Matthew 8:36).
Could following prosperity preaching cause people even in some churches to lose their souls?
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MAKES US WHO REVERENCE HIM EVEN GREATER THAN SOLOMON.
The Lord Jesus Christ said, everyone who reverence him as Savior and Lord, by repenting and believing in him and being born again of the Holy Spirit, is greater than past greats like Solomon– and is even greater than John who baptized the Lord (Matthew 11:11):
- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
- God’s Son Jesus Christ said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
- Because of believing in the atoning blood of Christ, God has adopted us as “Children of God” (John 1:12).
- And Christ has “made us kings and priests to our God” in the spiritual kingdom of God (Revelation 5:10).
- God has given us the Holy Spirit to guides us with his wisdom and power (John 14:23-26).
- The Spirit Inspires us to “ seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” and all other things, including the desires of our heart, will be given to us as well. (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4).
- God causes all things to work together for the good of us who love the Lord, as he conforms us to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).
Finally, the Lord is preparing a place for whoever reverences him to live with God in heaven forever (John 14:3). And he has “a crown of righteousness” for all who love him and look for his reappearing (2 Timothy 4:8).