1 Kings 3:9 KJV Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

If God invited you to ask Him for anything you wanted, what would you ask for? Would it be a long and healthy life? Would you ask Him for money, power, status, or prestige? Would you ask for a better job, stronger marriage, better education, or great family dynamics? What would you ask God for?

When Solomon was asked and given this choice, he asked for the wisdom to discern good from evil so that he might judge God’s people well. “Because thou hast asked this thing,” God told Solomon, “I have done according to thy words”. But God did not stop with simply answering Solomon’s request; God went on to promise to give Solomon “both riches and honor”. To this day, Solomon is known throughout the world for the great wisdom and riches God gave to him.

When Solomon began his reign, he did it with devotion, wisdom, and a deep determination to build a glorious temple to honor God. But something began to change in Solomon along the way. His desire for living by God’s wisdom was shifted by the drawing of the wealth and position God had given him. His marriage to many foreign women who worshiped pagan gods eventually led him into idolatry. This, in turn, lead the nation away from God and into idolatry as well. To be so full of wisdom and knowledge, he became fool hearted.

To me, the lesson is very clear for us. We should keep our attention turned towards God and not lose focus on all the blessings that come our way. A conscious decision to apply God’s wisdom to our lives every day will enable us to avoid the mistakes that destroyed Solomon. Tune into God’s voice every day and allow Him to direct our paths.