Happiness = Wisdom {1 Kings 1:1 - 4:34}
12:30 AM
Imagine
if you heard God ask you, “What do you
want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
(1 Kings 3:5b). What would you ask
for?
I
was pleasantly surprised to discover that I would be writing about wisdom
today. You see, I could probably find in
my journals 100’s of times that I’ve asked for wisdom and what happens when you
gain wisdom? Happiness. Yep, you gain happiness. Just listen to Proverbs 8:32-36. Here wisdom is speaking and she says, “And so, my children, listen to me, for
happy are all who follow my ways. Listen
to my counsel and be wise. Don’t ignore
it.” Do yourself a favor and GET
WISDOM! Proverbs 16:16 says, “How much better to get wisdom than gold,
and understanding than silver!”
What
do you chase after day after day? Last
week I wrote about accumulating stuff and sharing what we acquire. But why aren’t we chasing after eternal
happiness?! We spend a lifetime chasing
after happiness and if we do not have the wisdom to seek God in it, then we
will find it in whatever substitutes the world has to offer. “Terrorists may find it in shooting
presidents and popes. Executives may
find it in climbing the corporate ladder.
Athletes in breaking world records.
Scholars in publishing books.
Gamblers may find it in Reno.
Musicians in selling millions in records. The sources where people seek happiness apart
from God are countless: drink, drugs,
sex, suntans, televisions, tubing, eating, talking, walking, etc., etc. But the happiness that these things bring is
not true and lasting. It is not ultimate
and eternal. It is not the joy for which
we were made. And, therefore, it leaves
us unsatisfied, frustrated, incomplete, knowing that there must be something
more. But that ultimate and eternal
happiness that we crave is only found in wisdom.” John Piper
What
are the characteristics of a person who has wisdom? “The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results
in understanding.” Proverbs 9:10. It is fearing to run away from Him. It means fearing to seek refuge and joy and
hope from anywhere other than from God.
It means fearing that to stop trusting and depending on God and look to
anything else to meet our needs.
A
wise person is characterized by humility. “When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but
with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs
11:2. A proud person does not fear the
Lord. But a person who fears the Lord is
humble, because she depends on God for everything. Humility is the foundation for other aspects
of godly wisdom because humility is teachable and open to change. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a
wise man who built his house upon a rock.”
Matthew 7:24. So hearing and
doing God’s Word would be a good definition of godly wisdom.
If
you are seeking happiness then God’s Word is a divine prescription for how to
finally be cured of all unhappiness.
But
what happens when you are in a situation that God’s Word just does not speak
directly to your dilemma? 1 Kings
3:16-28 is like a soap opera to me and makes me smile at how this all works out
for Solomon. There was no biblical command
to tell Solomon what to do when these two prostitutes claim the same baby. Wisdom must go beyond knowing and doing God’s
Word. Wisdom must include a sensitive
and mature judgment of how the fear of the Lord should work itself out in all
the circumstances not specifically dealt with in the Bible. It’s like what Paul calls in Romans 12:2, a “renewing
of the mind”, and in Colossians 1:9 when Paul says, “So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about
you. We ask God to give you a complete
understanding of what He wants to do in your lives, and we ask Him to make you
wise with spiritual wisdom.” It’s so tough when there is no clear word from
God, but when we saturate our minds and hearts with God’s Word that we gain
spiritual wisdom to guide us in all situations.
How? How do we get wisdom?
- Desire wisdom. Proverbs 4:8 says, “Prize her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you for your embrace.” Proverbs 2:4 says, “Seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasure.”
- Since wisdom is found in the Word of God, we must apply ourselves in study and meditation to know the Word and do it. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7
- Pray. Solomon asked God for wisdom (1 Kings 3:11). James probably says it best, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.” James 1:5. If wisdom leads to true and lasting happiness and we are not born with it, it’s a gift from God and if we are to “get wisdom”, we must pray.
- Think about our death. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Talk about purging our priorities!
- Come to Jesus! “The queen of the south will also rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now someone greater than Solomon is here – and you refuse to listen to Him.” Matthew 12:42. “But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24 “In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3
To
know and love and follow Jesus is to own the treasure of ultimate and eternal
happiness. So listen to the command, “Get
Wisdom”.
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