Our theme this week is discernment but I am going to be using the word wisdom as well as they are very closely related. So in this dream God said to Solomon,
‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’
I am trying to imagine how we would answer that question. There are many in our world who would opt for fame and fortune, and a long life. And although wealth often doesn’t lead to happiness and contentment. Many might still opt to be miserable in style.
But Solomon asked for discernment, for wisdom in order to be a good king to his people. And this pleased God and his request was granted along with fame and fortune that he hadn’t asked for. The Lord also offered him a long life, he said,
“if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
Sadly, for Solomon, he didn’t keep to the Lord’s decrees and commands as his father David had, and died when he was not much more than 60 years old. But asking for discernment and wisdom was in itself a very wise thing to do. And Solomon had a very successful reign as king and was renowned for his great wisdom.
Final thoughts
I wonder how many of us can look back on our lives and think of some the decisions that we made, and how we got things wrong. Of course, it’s always easier in retrospect to see things more clearly.
I’m assuming here that of course no one is claiming to have led a life without making any mistakes or errors of judgement. I can think of just one or two things that I could have done differently – since I got out of bed this morning.
We might think that having a good education and having great knowledge might help us through life. But this isn’t always the case. Knowledge without wisdom and discernment can still get us into a lot of trouble.
Example Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in your fruit salad.
In a perfect world we would always see things clearly and always make good decisions. But our world is not perfect and we don’t always get things right. And the problem is that when we make bad decisions and get things wrong, it affects not only us but often those around us as well. So wisdom and discernment are attributes to be cherished.
The apostle Paul is a good example of a man who after encountering the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, was blessed with the spirit of wisdom and discernment. He wrote many of the letters in the New Testament, giving the churches he had started, and those close to him, much needed advice of how to live with one another. To the Colossians he said, ‘Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.’
What wonderful and wise words! I mention this because I see much of what Paul said being worked out in us today. As a church family together, we have much to be thankful for in the love that we have for one another. And I count it a blessing to be part of this wonderful family.
Over these last few weeks, we have looked at Humility, Fasting, Prayer and Listening. And these can all help us when we are faced with difficult decisions to make. Discerning the right thing to do. Whether it is talking things over with God in prayer, or making time to listen to what God might be saying to us. And listening to each other and being open to wise counsel from those we trust. These can all help us in making good and wise decisions.
As we move closer to Easter and the cross, may we continue to love and bear with each other with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. To be family together. And may we seek a spirit of discernment and wisdom in all that we do.
Amen.