When Under Pressure: Be Energized by God's Wisdom
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Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
1 Kings 3:3-15
1 Kings 3:3-15
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning, church family!
Good morning, church family!
Today we continue our ReCharge series—a series on prayer. Every week we've discovered that when life drains us, prayer reconnects us to the power of God.
Today we continue our ReCharge series—a series on prayer. Every week we've discovered that when life drains us, prayer reconnects us to the power of God.
Today we're talking about something every one of us experiences.
Today we're talking about something every one of us experiences.
Pressure.
Pressure.
Pressure at work.
Pressure at work.
Pressure raising children.
Pressure raising children.
Pressure paying bills.
Pressure paying bills.
Pressure making decisions.
Pressure making decisions.
Pressure in relationships.
Pressure in relationships.
Pressure in ministry.
Pressure in ministry.
Pressure has a way of exposing what's really inside us.
Pressure has a way of exposing what's really inside us.
Before we jump into Scripture, let me ask you something.
Before we jump into Scripture, let me ask you something.
Have you ever noticed how many decisions we make every day?
Have you ever noticed how many decisions we make every day?
Researchers estimate the average person makes somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 decisions every single day.
Researchers estimate the average person makes somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 decisions every single day.
Most are small.
Most are small.
What am I going to wear?
What am I going to wear?
What should I eat?
What should I eat?
Which route should I drive?
Which route should I drive?
But then there are those decisions that keep you awake at night.
But then there are those decisions that keep you awake at night.
Should I take that job?
Should I take that job?
Should we move?
Should we move?
How do I help my child?
How do I help my child?
What should I say to the doctor?
What should I say to the doctor?
What does God want me to do?
What does God want me to do?
When pressure increases, bad decisions become expensive.
When pressure increases, bad decisions become expensive.
That reminds me of a little story.
That reminds me of a little story.
Two deer were talking.
Two deer were talking.
One said,
One said,
"The women in the city sure are getting prettier every year."
"The women in the city sure are getting prettier every year."
The other replied, "I don't know... those men keep shooting at us."
The other replied, "I don't know... those men keep shooting at us."
Sometimes perspective changes everything.
Sometimes perspective changes everything.
That's exactly what Solomon needed.
That's exactly what Solomon needed.
He had just become king.
He had just become king.
His father David was gone.
His father David was gone.
An entire nation was looking to him for answers.
An entire nation was looking to him for answers.
Imagine being in your twenties and suddenly becoming responsible for millions of people.
Imagine being in your twenties and suddenly becoming responsible for millions of people.
That's pressure.
That's pressure.
God appeared to Solomon and said something remarkable:
God appeared to Solomon and said something remarkable:
"Ask what I shall give you."
"Ask what I shall give you."
Can you imagine?
Can you imagine?
Anything.
Anything.
Money.
Money.
Power.
Power.
Victory.
Victory.
Long life.
Long life.
Solomon could ask for anything.
Solomon could ask for anything.
His answer reveals the heart of a man who understood his greatest need wasn't more resources.
His answer reveals the heart of a man who understood his greatest need wasn't more resources.
It was more wisdom.
It was more wisdom.
Scripture
Scripture
(Read 1 Kings 3:3-15)
(Read 1 Kings 3:3-15)
I. We Don't Have It
I. We Don't Have It
Explanation
Explanation
One thing I appreciate about Solomon is his honesty.
One thing I appreciate about Solomon is his honesty.
He doesn't pretend to have everything figured out.
He doesn't pretend to have everything figured out.
Listen to what he says in verse 7.
Listen to what he says in verse 7.
"I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in."
"I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in."
He wasn't literally a child.
He wasn't literally a child.
He was acknowledging that compared to the responsibility before him...
He was acknowledging that compared to the responsibility before him...
he felt completely inadequate.
he felt completely inadequate.
That's humility.
That's humility.
Most of us hate admitting we don't know something.
Most of us hate admitting we don't know something.
We'll drive twenty miles in the wrong direction before asking for directions.
We'll drive twenty miles in the wrong direction before asking for directions.
We'll watch a five-minute YouTube video before reading the instructions.
We'll watch a five-minute YouTube video before reading the instructions.
We'll convince ourselves we've got it all together.
We'll convince ourselves we've got it all together.
Solomon didn't.
Solomon didn't.
He admitted,
He admitted,
"I don't know."
"I don't know."
Can I tell you something?
Can I tell you something?
That's usually where God begins His greatest work.
That's usually where God begins His greatest work.
The biggest obstacle to wisdom isn't ignorance.
The biggest obstacle to wisdom isn't ignorance.
It's pride.
It's pride.
James 1:5 says,
James 1:5 says,
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God."
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God."
Notice James doesn't say,
Notice James doesn't say,
"If any of you is stupid..."
"If any of you is stupid..."
He says,
He says,
"If any of you lacks wisdom."
"If any of you lacks wisdom."
That's every one of us.
That's every one of us.
We don't naturally possess the wisdom we need to lead our homes...
We don't naturally possess the wisdom we need to lead our homes...
raise our children...
raise our children...
run our businesses...
run our businesses...
serve in the church...
serve in the church...
or navigate life.
or navigate life.
Proverbs reminds us,
Proverbs reminds us,
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
Our instincts aren't always trustworthy.
Our instincts aren't always trustworthy.
Our feelings aren't always reliable.
Our feelings aren't always reliable.
Our experiences are limited.
Our experiences are limited.
But God's wisdom never fails.
But God's wisdom never fails.
Illustration
Illustration
One of the smartest men in American history was Abraham Lincoln.
One of the smartest men in American history was Abraham Lincoln.
Yet Lincoln surrounded himself with advisers who often disagreed with him.
Yet Lincoln surrounded himself with advisers who often disagreed with him.
Why?
Why?
Because wise people aren't afraid to admit they need help.
Because wise people aren't afraid to admit they need help.
Foolish people think they already know everything.
Foolish people think they already know everything.
Application
Application
What's the biggest decision you're facing today?
What's the biggest decision you're facing today?
Marriage?
Marriage?
Parenting?
Parenting?
Retirement?
Retirement?
Finances?
Finances?
Ministry?
Ministry?
Have you admitted to God...
Have you admitted to God...
"I don't know what to do"?
"I don't know what to do"?
Sometimes the wisest prayer you'll ever pray is simply,
Sometimes the wisest prayer you'll ever pray is simply,
"Lord...
"Lord...
I need Your help."
I need Your help."
Humility is where wisdom begins.
Humility is where wisdom begins.
II. God Does
II. God Does
Explanation
Explanation
Here's the good news.
Here's the good news.
What we lack...
What we lack...
God possesses completely.
God possesses completely.
God has never needed advice.
God has never needed advice.
He has never asked anyone,
He has never asked anyone,
"What do you think?"
"What do you think?"
He has never been surprised.
He has never been surprised.
Never confused.
Never confused.
Never uncertain.
Never uncertain.
Isaiah 40 asks,
Isaiah 40 asks,
"Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has informed Him?"
"Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has informed Him?"
The answer is...
The answer is...
No one.
No one.
God sees the beginning and the end at the same time.
God sees the beginning and the end at the same time.
He knows tomorrow before today finishes.
He knows tomorrow before today finishes.
He knows every consequence of every decision.
He knows every consequence of every decision.
He knows every heart.
He knows every heart.
Every motive.
Every motive.
Every outcome.
Every outcome.
That's why Solomon asked God.
That's why Solomon asked God.
Not because God was smart.
Not because God was smart.
Because God is wisdom itself.
Because God is wisdom itself.
Notice something else.
Notice something else.
God wasn't offended by Solomon's request.
God wasn't offended by Solomon's request.
He was pleased.
He was pleased.
Verse 10 says,
Verse 10 says,
"It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this."
"It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this."
Why?
Why?
Because Solomon valued wisdom above everything else.
Because Solomon valued wisdom above everything else.
God basically says,
God basically says,
"Since you asked for wisdom instead of wealth, fame, revenge, or long life...
"Since you asked for wisdom instead of wealth, fame, revenge, or long life...
I'm going to give you wisdom...
I'm going to give you wisdom...
and I'll give you many of those other blessings as well."
and I'll give you many of those other blessings as well."
Jesus would later say,
Jesus would later say,
"Seek first the kingdom of God..."
"Seek first the kingdom of God..."
God loves it when His children ask for what matters most.
God loves it when His children ask for what matters most.
Illustration
Illustration
A little boy asked his dad,
A little boy asked his dad,
"Dad...
"Dad...
how do you know so much?"
how do you know so much?"
His father smiled.
His father smiled.
"I've made a lot of mistakes."
"I've made a lot of mistakes."
Years later the boy asked,
Years later the boy asked,
"Dad...
"Dad...
how did you make so many mistakes?"
how did you make so many mistakes?"
His father answered,
His father answered,
"Because I didn't ask enough questions."
"Because I didn't ask enough questions."
God has already learned every lesson.
God has already learned every lesson.
We don't have to.
We don't have to.
We can ask Him.
We can ask Him.
Application
Application
Who are you asking for advice?
Who are you asking for advice?
The internet?
The internet?
Social media?
Social media?
The loudest voice?
The loudest voice?
The most popular opinion?
The most popular opinion?
Or God?
Or God?
The greatest source of wisdom available isn't Google.
The greatest source of wisdom available isn't Google.
It's God.
It's God.
Before you ask everyone else...
Before you ask everyone else...
ask Him.
ask Him.
III. God Wants Us to Know
III. God Wants Us to Know
Explanation
Explanation
God didn't give Solomon wisdom simply so Solomon could win arguments.
God didn't give Solomon wisdom simply so Solomon could win arguments.
He gave him wisdom...
He gave him wisdom...
to serve people.
to serve people.
Wisdom is never about making us look intelligent.
Wisdom is never about making us look intelligent.
It's about helping us love people well and glorify God.
It's about helping us love people well and glorify God.
That's why Solomon became known throughout the world.
That's why Solomon became known throughout the world.
Not because he was brilliant.
Not because he was brilliant.
But because God's wisdom flowed through him.
But because God's wisdom flowed through him.
James 3 describes heavenly wisdom.
James 3 describes heavenly wisdom.
It is
It is
Pure.
Pure.
Peaceable.
Peaceable.
Gentle.
Gentle.
Open to reason.
Open to reason.
Full of mercy.
Full of mercy.
Full of good fruit.
Full of good fruit.
God doesn't hide wisdom from His children.
God doesn't hide wisdom from His children.
He delights in giving it.
He delights in giving it.
James says He gives it
James says He gives it
"generously."
"generously."
Think about that.
Think about that.
God never says,
God never says,
"You've already asked too much."
"You've already asked too much."
He never says,
He never says,
"You should already know this."
"You should already know this."
He says,
He says,
"Ask."
"Ask."
Our Heavenly Father delights in giving wisdom to those who humbly seek Him.
Our Heavenly Father delights in giving wisdom to those who humbly seek Him.
Illustration
Illustration
A lighthouse doesn't remove the storm.
A lighthouse doesn't remove the storm.
It simply provides light so ships know where to go.
It simply provides light so ships know where to go.
God's wisdom doesn't always remove pressure.
God's wisdom doesn't always remove pressure.
It gives us direction while we're walking through it.
It gives us direction while we're walking through it.
Application
Application
Some of you are praying for God to remove the pressure.
Some of you are praying for God to remove the pressure.
Maybe He will.
Maybe He will.
Maybe He won't.
Maybe He won't.
But He has promised something even better.
But He has promised something even better.
His wisdom.
His wisdom.
And with God's wisdom...
And with God's wisdom...
you can make godly decisions even in difficult circumstances.
you can make godly decisions even in difficult circumstances.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Life is full of pressure.
Life is full of pressure.
Pressure at work.
Pressure at work.
Pressure at home.
Pressure at home.
Pressure with our health.
Pressure with our health.
Pressure with our finances.
Pressure with our finances.
Pressure in ministry.
Pressure in ministry.
The question isn't whether pressure will come.
The question isn't whether pressure will come.
The question is...
The question is...
Where will you turn when it does?
Where will you turn when it does?
Solomon could have asked for wealth.
Solomon could have asked for wealth.
He didn't.
He didn't.
He could have asked for military power.
He could have asked for military power.
He didn't.
He didn't.
He could have asked for a long life.
He could have asked for a long life.
He didn't.
He didn't.
He asked for wisdom.
He asked for wisdom.
Why?
Why?
Because he understood something every believer must learn.
Because he understood something every believer must learn.
The greatest need in life isn't having all the answers.
The greatest need in life isn't having all the answers.
It's knowing the One who does.
It's knowing the One who does.
James gives us the invitation today:
James gives us the invitation today:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God."
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God."
Not Google first.
Not Google first.
Not Facebook first.
Not Facebook first.
Not your coworkers first.
Not your coworkers first.
Go to God first.
Go to God first.
Because the same God who gave wisdom to Solomon still gives wisdom generously to His children today.
Because the same God who gave wisdom to Solomon still gives wisdom generously to His children today.
So when life places you under pressure...
So when life places you under pressure...
Don't panic.
Don't panic.
Don't pretend.
Don't pretend.
Don't rely on yourself.
Don't rely on yourself.
Pray.
Pray.
Ask.
Ask.
Listen.
Listen.
Obey.
Obey.
Because when life puts you under pressure, God's wisdom will always take you farther than your own understanding ever could.
Because when life puts you under pressure, God's wisdom will always take you farther than your own understanding ever could.
Let's pray.
Let's pray.
