Note: You can watch this teaching on CrossWalk’s YouTube channel.
This week we are looking at Solomon, the son of King David who became his unlikely successor. He is heralded as the wisest man who ever lived, as a direct result of asking for wisdom from God when God offered to “grant” whatever request Solomon came up with. There are some examples of his wisdom that are fitting with the time in which he lived; parallel examples with other cultures’ wisdom leaders are easily identified. Indeed, in one sense, his leadership led to the development of the nation of Israel into its greatest season of power and wealth.
What is so startling about Solomon for me is that, despite his wisdom, he made some incredibly unwise decisions that ended up setting the stage for the nation of Israel’s division and demise. The political marriages led to the watering down and corruption of Israel’s capacity to maintain their covenant with God – the very thing that kept them strong! Why did the wisest man ever find himself making such mistakes? As I think about Solomon, human nature in general, and my own similar experiences, a few things come to mind...
Honesty about the voices that shaped him. Solomon referred to his dad with incredibly glowing terms. Such remembrances are beautiful and appropriate to honor them as deserved. Yet, we need to be honest about those who shaped us as well, doing our best to recognize how we were shaped in both positive and negative ways. We see none such transparency or honesty from Solomon regarding David, who clearly was not as faithful and true as Solomon stated! I have known some folks who hold their shaping characters in such high regard that they miss some of the very human aspects of these wonderful people that, if they noticed, would have helped them address the not-so-wonderful realities in their own lives. It is not an act of dishonor to recognize the shortcomings of those who shaped us. It is an act of self-love. It can also be an important step toward healing and reconciling with those who shaped us. In my experience having done this, while there are some painful steps to take on this walk, the outcome is one where I more fully appreciate those who shaped me, not less. I hope my kids do this to me so that they can learn from my journey and see me as fully human, for better or worse. The same approach would be wise to apply to all sources of wisdom we listen to – what are the biases of the sources we tap, and how are we accounting for them?
Honesty about our internal forces. Sometimes it is easier to recognize the humanity in other people than ourselves. Knowing ourselves, as Aristotle noted, may be the beginning of wisdom, but actively monitoring what is driving our thoughts and behavior is what helps us to live wisely. How do you keep track of what inner voices and forces are at play in your sense of self and your attitudes and behavior? If you have no idea, that likely means that you are not much aware of such things and are probably missing some wisdom. Most likely, you are tipped off to your humanity by others who make it known to you, sometimes, perhaps, with exasperation. If you are married, there is a good chance your spouse is a mirror for you – sometimes reflecting very good things and other times not so much.
I have benefitted much from personality inventories that help me appreciate how I’m wired. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is one of the most widely used inventories in the world, helping people discover which of 16 types most matches themselves. The Enneagram is extremely popular and categorizes people a bit differently into nine basic types with lots of nuance. I have found that discovering my Enneagram type and reading through the description has helped me grow a lot in self-understanding. And, related to living wisely, the descriptions related to health have been very helpful – I can remember times when I have not been healthy, and can see why I wasn’t. Knowing this stuff helps me be aware of what motivates me and what I need to look out for – so helpful! If only Solomon could have had such a tool! Of course, there is a difference between knowing a doing. Spending time on self-discovery is critical, however, to maturing through life and avoiding the repeat button. As the proverb goes, as a dog returns to its vomit so a fool returns to his folly (Proverbs 26:11), unreflective persons are more likely to be fools.
Please take some time this week – how about right now? – to invest in your self understanding. Next week, we will look at very practical tools we can use to further ensure that we are not only filling ourselves with wisdom, but living wisely.
Questions to Consider…
What are the themes of your foolishness?
What are the themes of the root causes of your foolishness?
When are you most likely to act like a fool?
Who in your life lets you know when you are acting like a fool?
What is your response to being informed of your foolishness?
What have you found helpful in discovering the depth of your foolishness and the root causes?
What keeps you from maturing out of your foolishness?
Texts:
1 Kings 3:1-14 (MSG)
Solomon arranged a marriage contract with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He married Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the City of David until he had completed building his royal palace and God’s Temple and the wall around Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the people were worshiping at local shrines because at that time no temple had yet been built to the Name of God. Solomon loved God and continued to live in the God-honoring ways of David his father, except that he also worshiped at the local shrines, offering sacrifices and burning incense.
The king went to Gibeon, the most prestigious of the local shrines, to worship. He sacrificed a thousand Whole-Burnt-Offerings on that altar. That night, there in Gibeon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream: God said, “What can I give you? Ask.”
Solomon said, “You were extravagantly generous in love with David my father, and he lived faithfully in your presence, his relationships were just and his heart right. And you have persisted in this great and generous love by giving him—and this very day!—a son to sit on his throne.
“And now here I am: God, my God, you have made me, your servant, ruler of the kingdom in place of David my father. I’m too young for this, a mere child! I don’t know the ropes, hardly know the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of this job. And here I am, set down in the middle of the people you’ve chosen, a great people—far too many to ever count.
“Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?”
God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon’s response. And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after. As a bonus, I’m giving you both the wealth and glory you didn’t ask for—there’s not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I’ll also give you a long life.”
Ephesians 5:15-20 (MSG)
Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.
Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!
Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge drafts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Quotes on Wisdom:
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”
― Mark Twain
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
― Aristotle
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
― Socrates
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”
― Albert Einstein
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
― Oprah Winfrey
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
― Confucious
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
― Rumi
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
– Solomon, Proverbs 1:7; 9:10