Context No. 3583 of 4322 · 1 Kings

1 Kings 3:6-14: in context

6Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. 7Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in. 8Your servant is among your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered or counted for multitude. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 10This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you. 13I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days. 14If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

God appears to young Solomon and offers him anything he asks. Solomon, keenly aware of his own inadequacy, I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in, asks for one thing: an understanding heart to govern the people and to discern between good and evil.

He does not ask for long life, or riches, or the death of his enemies, the very things a king might crave, but for wisdom to serve the people well. And this request pleases God, precisely because of what Solomon did not ask for. God gives him the wisdom he sought, and adds the riches and honor he did not seek. There is a profound principle here about our desires and our prayers. When we ask, out of a humble sense of our own limits, for what we need in order to serve God and others well, rather than for our own advancement, it pleases God, and he often gives more than we asked. What we ask for reveals the true state of our hearts.

When I ask God for things, do I seek, out of humility, what I need to serve him and others well, rather than my own advancement, and does that shape what I pray for?

Sources

1 Kings 3:9: "Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil."
1 Kings 3:11: "Because you... have not asked for yourself long life, nor... riches... but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice."
James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally."