Three Wishes.

If a genie offered you three wishes, what would you request? Money, fame, and power? Travel, adventure, and long life? God came to the newly crowned King Solomon in a dream and said: “What should I give you?” Do you know what Solomon requested?

Solomon responded with gratitude, reminding God that He had blessed David and now Solomon, and had made the young man king over a people too numerous to count.

“So give your servant an obedient heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:9.

How did God feel about this request?

“It pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. So God said to him, ‘Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment and to understand justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands, I will give you a long life.” 1 Kings 3:10-14.

Solomon’s prayer is our example. We should pray for wisdom and discernment. We should pray for understanding. We should pray to understand justice and leadership and how to judge between people and situations. Look at the things going on in our world right now: a global pandemic and race riots in the streets of numerous US cities. Do we need God’s wisdom about people and situations and justice? You bet we do—and we always will.

Pray for wisdom and understanding and an “obedient heart” as Solomon did. God will honor that prayer and bless you—and He just might bless you with things you did not request.

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