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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Happiness = Wisdom {1 Kings 1:1 - 4:34}


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? 

Image result for wisdom

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?

  1. 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.” 
  2. 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
  3. 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.
  4. 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! 
  5. 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”.