Wisdom

“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

Day 134. Today’s readings from the Daily Texts pull me back to yesterday’s Old Testament reading, 1 Kings 3:5-12. Solomon is just beginning his reign. The Lord comes to Solomon and invites Solomon to ask anything of God. Solomon refers to himself as a “little child” in the conversation that follows, but he was actually about twenty years old. Solomon is wise enough to know that what he needs is wisdom. His requests pleases the Lord, perhaps because if Solomon had been anything like I was at that age, he would have believed he knew everything already.

Solomon’s request for wisdom should be our daily request. As James writes, God will give it generously. The trick is remembering that we need to come to the Lord for wisdom, to turn away from our belief that our wisdom is sufficient.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians, declares that God has made foolish the wisdom of the world – not because God is anti-wisdom but because our wisdom is anything but. In the foolishness of the cross, we see God’s wisdom on full display. A wisdom grounded in love that moves toward continual self-giving (cf. Philippians 2). This is the wisdom we should seek.

We are in need of much wisdom these days. Our own efforts have not created the peaceable kingdom. Today we begin by acknowledging that we do not have the wisdom we need. Acknowledging our need is the wisest thing we can do. From this starting point, what can’t God do through us?

Be well, friends. You are loved.

Generous God, you offer wisdom to those who seek God. Open our hearts to you, that our brains would follow. Lead us to the wisdom that works for the good of all people. Guide scientists and researches who are searching for a COVID-19 vaccine. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: King Solomon, Kristian Zahrtmann, 1881 (public domain).