I felt led to teach about seeking God for wisdom and knowledge. As followers of Christ, we need to constantly be seeking God for wisdom and knowledge in every part of our lives. We also need to seek God for wisdom and knowledge as we read His Word. When you ask God for wisdom and knowledge when reading His Word, the Holy Spirit will teach you all things, Jesus said in John 14:26 (ESV) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”.
Defining Wisdom and Knowledge
So, what do wisdom and knowledge mean? Let’s look at knowledge first, The Webster’s Dictionary defines knowledge as facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education. Some synonyms for the word knowledge are understanding, comprehension, grasp, and mastery. Now let’s look at what the word wisdom means, The Webster’s Dictionary defines wisdom as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Some synonyms for the word wisdom are intelligence, understanding, insight, perception, and discernment. Now let’s look at both wisdom and knowledge together. Knowledge is when one has a bunch of facts and data that has been learned or experienced. On the other hand, wisdom is the ability to discern from the knowledge you have gained to make good decisions.
King Solomon’s Request
So now that we understand the meaning of the words wisdom and knowledge let’s look at someone in the Bible who sought God for wisdom and knowledge. King Solomon became king after his father David passed away. God revealed Himself to Solomon one night and gave him the opportunity to ask for whatever he would like God to give him. 2 Chronicles 1:7 (NKJV) tells us, “On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”. Right here Solomon can ask God for anything he desires. As we read on, we find out that Solomon asked for one of the best things, in my opinion, you could possibly ask from God. 2 Chronicles 1:8-10 (NKJV) continues and says, “And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”. Solomon could have asked God for riches and fame, but he simply asked God for wisdom and knowledge to perform his duties as King.
God’s Response to King Solomon
We will find out God’s response to Solomon’s request in 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (NKJV), “Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.””. God sees Solomon’s true heart in his request for wisdom and knowledge. We know that God will search our hearts and He will truly know our desires. Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV) tells us, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”. So as God sees the heart of Solomon from his request, He grants him wisdom and knowledge, but He also gives him riches and wealth that no king before him ever had received. This also serves as a reminder to us that God can go above and beyond what we expect when we go to Him with a need.
A Biblical Approach to Knowledge
So now that we have a Biblical example of someone who asked God for wisdom and knowledge, let’s see what the Bible tells us about knowledge. Proverbs 18:15 (AMP) tells us, “The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.”. A wise person always seeks knowledge, if you want to be a wise person of God then you need to seek knowledge and spend time in the Word. Additionally Proverbs 1:7 (AMP) tells us, “The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.”. As believers we need to truly worship God, tell others of His greatness, seek the Holy Spirit for teaching, and spend time in the Word each day, this will give us knowledge and that will result into wisdom.
A Biblical Approach to Wisdom
So, what does the Bible say about the word wisdom? Proverbs 4:6 (AMP) tells us, “Do not turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you; Love her, and she will watch over you.”. We not only need wisdom as we go through our daily tasks, but we need spiritual wisdom. People might have a hard time understanding what spiritual wisdom is because it is not natural, it is from God. Discernment and spiritual wisdom go hand in hand. One of the synonyms for the word wisdom is discernment, The Webster’s Dictionary defines discernment as to the ability to judge well. Some synonyms for discernment are judgment, taste, enlightenment, and sensitivity. We are living in a period where there are many false minsters out in the world proclaiming the Word of God. There are many people who are demon possessed that we encounter daily. There are many people who might be oppressed by the enemy. The enemy is out there to kill, steal, and destroy, his objective is to get as many people to hell as he possibly can. Therefore, every Christian needs to seek God for discernment, because you may never know when the enemy is trying to get you to fall for one of his many traps without having discernment. Psalm 119:66 (AMP) tells us, “Teach me good judgment (discernment) and knowledge, For I have believed and trusted and relied on Your commandments.”. Also 1 John 4:1 instructs us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.”.
Final Thoughts and Reflection
I encourage you to take some time and ask God to open your spiritual eyes and give you a discerning spirit. Seek God for wisdom and knowledge in everything you do and ask Him for revelation knowledge as you read and study His word. Philippians 1:9-10 (NKJV) tells us, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,”. I also encourage you to spend more time than what you currently are spending in God’s Word. I feel God is wanting more people to invest more time in His Word, than in the things of this world. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”. Lastly, I would like to challenge you to a couple of questions:
1. Do you make decisions off instinct or do you step back and seek God?
2. Do you trust every piece of Christian literature and music just because it is labeled Christian, or do you discern what is really of God and what is of the devil?
3. Are you letting any of the works of the enemy into your life? (secular music, secular talk shows, secular literature, witchcraft, Harry Potter, horoscopes, pornography, or any type of addiction)
As you seek God for a discerning spirit and stay in His Word, let Him reveal to you any open demonic doors in your life that the enemy could enter into or may have already entered into and deal with it accordingly in the name of Jesus.