WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT!

Monday, January 21, 2019

WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT!

1 Kings 3:7-10

7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

           Once, while eating at a restaurant, I noticed a maze on the paper place mat. You had to trace a route from an entrance to an exit. There were many twists and turns along the way and many cul-de-sacs which forced you to retrace your path. Yes, that is life and we all experience it. Solomon was given the kingdom of his father David and the enormity of the task drove him to his knees.

           Wisdom is defined by Webster’s English Dictionary as: “The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity; skill; dexterity.” Knowledge, then, is mechanical while wisdom is – spiritual. Many smart people are not wise and some wise people are not greatly educated. William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) had this to say about wisdom.

Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one,
Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom, in minds attentive to their own.
Knowledge, a rude, unprofitable mass,
The mere materials with which wisdom builds,
Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place,
Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich.
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
Cowper.

           Discernment is the ability to see what is cleverly hidden by circumstances! I remember seeing in some newspapers side-by-side cartoons with subtle differences. The challenge was to find all the differences between picture one and picture two. It was fun but challenging. Subtle differences in life are not always fun but are always challenging. Sometimes the ability to discern subtle differences is essential and urgent.

Dear Lord, you promised wisdom to those who would only ask for it. I’m asking today. Please add the gift of discernment as well. AMEN