The Place of Wise Counsel In Our Lives

Image: Courtesy belief.net

And Solomon said unto God...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? (2Chronicles 1:8-10).

Solomon: The name has become synonymous to wisdom. Obviously, a man who penned down Proverbs and Ecclesiastes must be nothing short of wisdom. We know however, that the source of his wisdom was God. One day Solomon had what I will describe as a worship service. He sacrificed a thousand burnt offering(vs 6) and I believe that got God's attention. That same night after the sacrifice, God appeared to Solomon and asked him: “Ask what I shall give thee.”(vs 7).

Solomon‘s answer; “Give me now wisdom and knowledge” impressed God: 

...Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life... Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.(vs 11-12).

“Wisdom and Knowledge“, I doubt if that would have been the response of many of us in this generation. We would have asked exactly what Solomon did not ask: 1:Prosperity (riches, wealth). 2: Influence and dominion (honour). 3: Death of our enemies(life of thine enemies) and 4: Long Life(neither yet hast asked long life). Have you ever asked how Solomon got it right with his answer to God's question? I think I found the answer in my Bible study sometime back. See this: 

Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. (1 Chronicles 22:12).

Solomon didn't get it right because he was a genius, no, before God appeared to him, David his father had already instructed him on what is important in his leadership: “wisdom and understanding(Knowledge)”. Those were the exact things Solomon asked when God appeared to him. Who is your counsellor? Who is your adviser? Who is instructing you? Ensure that any counsel or advice you receive ultimately leads you to walking and obeying God