Why do we need God’s wisdom?

What would you ask if God told you to ask anything of Him? 

Most of us ask God to give us wealth, happiness, and good health. However, King Solomon, the son of David, only asked God for wisdom, and God gave him more than he asked for.

In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon said to God, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who can govern these great people of yours?”

King Solomon was unique among others since he knew God would bless him, yet he wanted to handle these blessings wisely. Thus, he asked for wisdom to steward God’s gifts well.

In contrast, most of us are focused on praying for more blessings, yet we do not ask God how we can handle them. 

So, even though God heard our prayers, we tend to lose track and mismanage what we receive.

That is why we need to be like King Solomon; before asking for anything, we should seek God’s wisdom to discern how we can be wise in every decision.

Understanding Wisdom in the Bible

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17)

The Bible defines Godly wisdom as being pure and wanting peace. A person with Godly wisdom is also sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. 

Also, they are obedient to God’s commandments and are merciful, producing characters that form the Holy Spirit. 

A man with Godly wisdom is just and sincere. In other words, wisdom from God is a personality trait we must possess. 

It is not just gained through experience or knowledge based on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Why do we need God’s wisdom

Not all people who have had many life experiences are wise enough. Some keep repeating the same mistakes because they lack the wisdom that comes from God.

Nevertheless, the good news is that God is so generous as to give us His wisdom, just like He did to King Solomon if only we would ask for it.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Accordingly, is God’s wisdom essential?

In Proverbs Chapter 3, the Bible explains that wisdom is about remembering God’s teachings and keeping His commands. 

Here are some reasons why we need God’s wisdom.

To give you peace and prosperity

Proverbs 3:2 says that God will prolong our lives and give us peace and prosperity. 

Not all people who are wealthy have peace of mind. Sometimes, they are the ones who have a lot of worries in life. 

Some may not have fully enjoyed what they have worked for since their time has come. 

Nevertheless, with God’s wisdom, we could enjoy a peaceful and abundant life with God. We have nothing to worry about what to eat, drink, or wear if we are in His presence. 

To find favor with God, even with man

God was so pleased with King Solomon when he asked for wisdom. God did not just grant his request but also gave him more. 

In 1 Kings 4:29-34, God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure. People from all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. 

God gave him wealth and fame even if Solomon did not ask for them. He was known to be the wealthiest king of his era. (1 Kings 3:13)

Besides, God had given Solomon a long life based on his obedience. 1 Kings 3:14 says, “And 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.”

Thus, we need God’s wisdom to experience God’s favor. God will make people like us through His favor for what we do. 

Proverbs 3:3-4 says that when we keep love and faithfulness in our hearts, we will win favor and a good name in God’s sight and man.

To have clear directions

Not all people know where they are going or how they will achieve their goals in life. 

With the wisdom that comes from God, He would make our paths straight so we would have a clear direction to reach our destination.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says that when we trust the Lord with our whole heart, do not depend on our own understanding, and submit to Him in all our ways, God will straighten our paths. 

Those who rely on their understanding usually become distracted, stressed, and tired. 

Although they are not using all their energy yet, it seems like they still do not know where they are headed or their purpose. 

Thus, God’s wisdom is vital for us to know our purpose. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, so we must depend on Him to avoid harm.

To be healthy

We need God’s wisdom to be healthy. So, as they say, our health is our wealth. We would know how to care for our health with His wisdom and guidance.

Proverbs 3:7-8 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

God’s wisdom gives us the power to resist evil and avoid things that could harm our bodies. 

It gives us the understanding that when we honor the Lord, we will not indulge in vices and habits that could risk our well-being.

To be wise in handling your wealth

God’s wisdom could allow us to become wise in managing our wealth or finances. 

First, it teaches us to honor God with the first fruit of all our income or crops. If we do this, God could fill our barns, which would overflow. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Wisdom from God would help us set aside the ten percent or tithes of our income cheerfully because we know that we are doing this to please and honor the Lord. 

Then, God’s wisdom would teach us to manage our wealth wisely by knowing how to invest to gain more.

To be refined 

We all need God’s discipline to become better people. With God’s wisdom, we would not despise the Lord’s way of correcting us or resent His rebuke because we knew He was doing it out of His unconditional love for us. 

Not all people love it when God disciplines them, for they do not clearly understand why we need to be corrected. 

More so, with God’s wisdom, we would fully understand that His discipline is part of the process of becoming more like Jesus Christ. Now that we have been saved and become a new creation, there are some things we need to remove or change.

Blessed are those who find wisdom

Not everyone has found God’s wisdom, and we are truly blessed to be enlightened about why it is crucial in our lives. 

God emphasized that we should not neglect His wisdom and understanding because this would be our life. God’s wisdom will allow us to walk this journey safely and not stumble along the way.

“My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you and an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety,  and your foot will not stumble.” - Proverbs 3:21-23