Wisdom Is Needed To Lead!

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 NIV

Believers know the story about Solomon and how he asked God for wisdom instead of riches and God gave Him the riches and honor, too. Amazing! The king humbled himself before God and acknowledged he didn't have what it would take to lead God's people!

There are so many lessons that can be learned from Solomon's life. First of all, his ascension to his father's throne was fulfillment of prophecy.  There are some things that are going to happen in our lives that are simply fulfillment of God's plans. What we do with those plans are on us.

Then, we need to know within ourselves when we need help. Thinking we know everything when we don't is probably the detonator that will trigger disaster in our lives. None of us knows everything and we all need people in our lives to help us to accomplish anything worthwhile.  We own what we do not know and ask for help before either cause an implosion or an explosion that destroys us and others.

When we understand God, through our relationship with Him, we know there is no wisdom like His and we go to Him to ask for wisdom and direction in all area of our lives. And get this--He won't think badly of us when we come to Him for help. What He will do, is to honor our request. He will give us more wisdom than we can handle at one time, but He will also guide us in using the wisdom He gives.

Another lesson we obtain from learning about Solomon is to not get so full of ourselves that we forget how God expects all of His people to live. Solomon allowed his wealth--the material things to mean far too much to him to the point that he boasted--to the wrong people--of all he had. And to make matters worse--he married all sorts of women and had concubines and lived long enough to understand--he had gone astray and what befell him was because of his disobedience to God.

I have heard and seen many people proclaiming that even though Trump is not qualified to be the president of this country that we should just pray for him. Here's the challenge with that approach--all the prayer in the world will not make him fit to be president if he is not willing to hear God.  
Presently, I see no evidence of him ever listening to God because he's too busy listening to himself. We must remember that God allows all of us freewill choice--He does not make anyone do anything and He won't change who He is because of Donald Trump or anyone else.

Therefore, my prayer is for the nation--that as Americans we will stand firm on God's Word and seek Him in all things--including who we put into office. When we are willing to listen to God, He will speak to us and we will hear what He says--even over the barrage of insults and media sensationalism.

Lord, give us a heart to hear You and then give us the desire, the will, and the courage to obey what we hear.