"I AM NO FOOL!"

In Proverbs 1:7 the wise man, Solomon, wrote "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (NIV)

If you could have anything in this world, what would it be – money, power, beauty, long life, good health, or a happy marriage? The list goes on and on because these are many of the things we request in our prayers every day.

Many years ago, God granted a king a wish. The king could have had anything, but he asked for something that many of us may not have considered – wisdom!

King Solomon knew that he needed God’s wisdom for the overwhelming task to govern Israel. God was pleased with his unselfish request and granted him his desire. In 1 Kings 4:29-30 we are informed about this gift: "And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore."

How fortunate we are today to see Solomon’s, God given, insight exemplified in his writing in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

When we consider our greatest desires in this life, the list often runs to things that will make our lives easier, ourselves more attractive, more popular, our earthly future more secure. Our society has trained us to desire these kinds of things. We do not often pray for "wisdom and discipline," the very things that Solomon declared to be "despised by fools," and yet these are the gifts we so desperately need.

Who is wise in God’s eyes? It is not an individual’s intelligence or high IQ. A person who is wise is one who fears Him and keeps His commandments. In contrast, God considers one who denies his existence and does not follow his commands to be a fool. Let us pray earnestly for wisdom, true wisdom.