II Chronicles 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
Wisdom for Stewardship
Most of us live by lists, whether it is lists of things we want or lists of things that we need. That is not altogether bad. Maybe you have lists of things you want in life, in education, in work, in family, or in some other area. There is always more of something we want or need. Parents want more time. College students want more sleep. Business people want more money. Ministry people want more respect. Managers want more authority. All of us want longer life. These things are not bad, but what if you don’t get those things? What if you are left with what you have right now?
I think about Solomon. God came to young King Solomon and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” God was giving him the request of his heart. How amazing! Whatever the reason, God literally told Solomon he could have whatever he asked. Can you imagine that? What is it that you would ask for?
Solomon asked God for wisdom. He said, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?” Now there is no doubt Solomon needed authority, respect, and power to carry out his duties, but Solomon asked for a specific kind of wisdom. He asked for wisdom to govern God’s people.
Before we ask for more authority, respect, or money, we need God’s wisdom to steward what we have already. Most of us would be shocked at the results if we actually applied wisdom from God to our current possessions. Some of us need wisdom because we have nothing and feel like we have no resources whatsoever. Solomon needed wisdom because he had too much. He was ruling God’s great people and he was, as David said, “young and tender.”
So what do you need today? It may not always be God’s will for you to be healthy or wealthy, but it is God’s will for you to be wise. James says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.” Well, all of us need wisdom. It is just that all of us don’t realize we need wisdom all the time. So, ask for wisdom because God gives generously and will not scold us for asking.
Today, whatever it is that you need, begin by asking God for wisdom to be a good steward of what you have already. Then, see God multiply your stewardship in ways you could not imagine right now. It is not wrong to ask for any number of things we need on any given day, but I often pray, “God, help me to be a good steward of what I have today because I’ll need to ask You for a lot more tomorrow, and I don’t want to be embarrassed when I do.”