According to 1 Kings 3:10 (in context), Solomon asked God for wisdom to rule the people of Israel well. This Bible verse indicates that God was pleased with Solomon’s request.

Yes, it is true that, late in his life, Solomon made some very foolish choices that most definitely did not please God. You can read about those choices and their consequences in 1 Kings 11. The Bible does not sugarcoat the truth about the human tendency to mess up. This is true even of “the good guys.” In fact, the brutal portrayal of even the good guys makes you wonder if there are any truly good guys. This honesty is one of the reasons I hold the Bible in high regard.

But back to pleasing God by asking for wisdom!

In the New Testament, James also speaks of asking for wisdom. Whether or not he had King Solomon’s request in mind is doubtful. However, James has some wise words about wisdom.

“James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-7, English Standard Version)

Verse 5 is a promise for any and all of us. When it comes right down to it, we all need wisdom, don’t we? Sure, some of us are smart and some of us are clever. Probably not as smart or clever as we think, of course. However, that is another story and shall be told at another time.

But then there’s wisdom, and that strikes me as a different matter altogether. Some of the wisest people I’ve ever known weren’t all that smart. Some smart (or even brilliant) people I’ve ever known have been really unwise—a.k.a. foolish.

So, according to James, wisdom is ours for the asking. But you have to ask the right Person, at the right time, and with the right attitude.

1. The right Person: God. Would it surprise you to find out that the creator, sustainer, and lover of the universe is a wonderful source of wisdom? Perhaps we should be more surprised if it were not so. And yet, frankly, I often search for wisdom everywhere else. Now don’t get me wrong. God frequently pours his wisdom into and through nature and people. It is very foolish to ignore the wise counsel of others or of the universe. However, it is usually best to go directly to the ultimate source of wisdom. And that is God.

2. The right time: Continually. This doesn’t necessarily come out in the English translations, but the asking for wisdom and the fact that we have a wisdom-giving God is expressed in the present tense in the original Greek text. The present tense in Greek usually has the nuance of continual or repetitive action. We need to be continually asking God for the wisdom that God is continually giving. So, we’re talking here not about a one-time-fits-all gift. Rather, we are talking about wisdom for the living of this day, this moment. So, today, why not ask God for wisdom at least ten times? Excuse me for a moment while I practice what I write.

. . .

There, that’s two times for me!

3.  The right attitude: With Faith. Do I really believe that God wants me to ask for, to have, and to make use of wisdom? And why wouldn’t I believe that. If there is a God at all, God probably does what he pleases. And if it gives God pleasure to give any and all wisdom (not just Solomon), who am I to deny the God of the universe a little pleasure?