In the book of 1 Kings, when Solomon stepped into his role as king over Israel, God gave him the chance to ask for anything he wanted. He said to Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you (1 Kings 3:5)."

If there ever was a moment in the Scriptures when God seemingly operated as a genie in a bottle, this was it. He threw the door wide open and said, whatever you want, it's yours. 

Solomon could have asked for anything. Endless power. Limitless riches. Comfort and safety. Dominion over his enemies. Anything. And God was willing to give it to him. 

But instead of any of those things, Solomon asked for wisdom. 

He replied to God, saying, "I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties."

I don't know if you ever feel that way, but I sure do. There are many days when I'm confronted with situations where I don't know what to do. 

What age is the right age to get your child a smartphone?
How much money should I be saving for retirement years? 
Should I say yes or no to this ministry or work opportunity? 
Are we living in the right house, or is there a better home out there to suit our families' needs? 
Am I spending too much time on work and not enough time with my family? 

I could write seventeen pages of questions like that. I'm sure you could too. 

In all of those situations, what's needed is wisdom. Tim Keller has a great definition of wisdom - it's knowing what to do when the moral rules of right and wrong don't apply. 

As I observe the talking heads, leadership gurus, even pastors, and church leaders of our day, I'm not hearing too many people talk about what it means to be wise. There's a lot of talk about how to increase your following, be more productive, build a business, develop a brand, or even grow a church. But not how to grow in wisdom. 

Over the last year, everyone, no matter who you are, has been faced with an endless number of new decisions about how to order and prioritize your life. 

Do I go to this gathering or stay at home? 
Do I send my kids to school or keep them home?
Do I get the COVID vaccine or not? 

In these situations, what we need is wisdom. But it seems as though it's one of the less explored topics of our day.

The Scriptures have a lot to say about what it means to be wise. It seems that developing wisdom is one of its primary objectives. But how do we cultivate it in our lives?

I would imagine I'm not the only one asking that question. If that describes you, I would love for you to join me on this journey. I don't know how long it will take or when it will end, but hopefully, in the days to come, we will see wisdom grow in our lives.