Power of knowledge and wisdom
is not very common in our society. In the Bible, we have few wise men and King
Solomon was one of them. One cannot be wise if he really does not fear God and
ask him for wisdom. Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave it to him without
measure. This made him outstanding during his time or tenure as the king of Israelite.
Consequently, many people came
to him from distance places for help, counseling and business. He became very
relevant in the world. You can see that wisdom makes one relevant in the
society. If you are relevant in your society, people must be pressing and
striving to reckon with you in businesses and including in all other
transactions. Wisdom has the potential to give you connections and attracts you
to people which can equally give you an avenue to make wealth.
Note that God cannot give to
you wisdom if it is to use it to kill people and indulging in other great
atrocities. If you ask for wisdom for the good and growth of your society or
people God must certainly give to you provided that you fear him.
Consequently,
wisdom can be defined as that which undoubtedly comes from God;
For
the Lord Gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(Pro. 2: 6 NIV)
Because the real essence of
wisdom is spiritual, for life is more than just living by a set of rules and being
rewarded in some physical manner. Thus, though it will involve observation and
instruction, it really begins with God and one’s faith in Him as Lord and
Saviour.
‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise
wisdom and discipline’ (Pro. 1: 7 NIV)
And He
said to man, ‘the fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is
understanding.’ (Job 28: 28 NIV)
(This
is according to Holman illustrated Bible Dictionary)
These two things can be noted
here with respect to wisdom
1. If you do not begin to fear the lord,
you should forget about wisdom and knowledge because God give wisdom only to
those that fear Him. Wisdom and knowledge is power that comes from God.
2. If you refuse to shun and abhor evils (that
is: say no to Satan), do not dream of wisdom and knowledge because you
cannot get it.
What
Solomon Did
Solomon
went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered
a thousand burnt offerings on it.
That
night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “ask for whatever you want me to
give you. (2 Chr. 1:6-7 NIV)
Solomon manifested the degree
in which he fears the Lord by offering unto the Lord a thousand burnt offerings
in the Altar. If you cannot offer to the Lord what can cost you much, I doubt
if you fear him. You can manifest how you fear the Lord by giving Him your
money for His projects. Solomon did that and it worked out for him.
That night (Immediately)
the Lord appeared to Solomon because he feared Him with his money and had demonstrated
it. He is unlike some brethren and politicians that come to church harvest and bazaar
sales buy items on credit and refuse to pay. Only arguing that they owe God but
not man, therefore supposes to pay at their convenient times.
This made me to know why God
refuses to bless some people and was too reluctant to grant their request. The
best way to test one’s faithfulness to God is through his/her financial
sacrifices. Note that, if you do not give God good money, you do not fear Him
and He certainly will not give you wisdom and understanding. God cannot know
that you love and fear Him except when you give to Him something precious.
When you give to the Lord,
there is no doubt if He will give back to you. He said to Solomon, ask for
whatever you want me to give you. Then Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge.
“Give
me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern
this great people of yours?” (2 Chr. 1:10 NIV)
God
said to Solomon, “since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for
wealth, riches or honour, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have
not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over
whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and
honour, as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have”.
(2 Chr. 1:11-12 NIV)
Sometimes, when we ask God for
what we want He provides our need because He really knows our need. What you
want may not be the best for you but God knows what you need which should be
the best for your life. Solomon asked God for wisdom and knowledge only but God
added to the wisdom and knowledge He gave to him riches, wealth and honour.
Why? Because he fears the Lord which he manifested through the sacrifices he
offered to Him. Secondly, he asked for wisdom and knowledge to enable him to
govern God’s own people. He is seeing his people as God’s people and therefore
his paramount interest or focus is on them. He really asked for what he will do
for his people first before himself.
… But
for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king,… (2
Chr.1:11 NIV)
This was why God alloyed the
wisdom and knowledge He gave to him with wealth, riches and honour.
Concerning
Daniel
God gave Daniel wisdom and
knowledge that made him outstanding before the king and before all the
magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners in Babylon. One thing peculiar
to Daniel was that he is very loyal to God and did not forget that he came from
Judah despite the freedom and privileges he had in Babylon. Even when he was
persecuted, he refused to dance to the tune of the world system. He rejected
the world special food which the king Nebuchadnezzar offered to them through
his chief court Official (Ashpenar) because he fears the Lord and always obey
him. He says no to anything that can compel him to disobey his God including
political position and wealth.
This was why Ashpenaz (Chief
Court Official) to king Nebuchadnezzar wrote a brief profile of Daniel thus:
Daniel
1:3-16.
The
first time I saw Belteshazzar, I knew he was unlike other wise men. Even as I
chose him from the youth of Jerusalem to live in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar,
his eyes told me his heart would never leave Judah. He would always be Daniel.
He
declined the privileges and indulgences others lusted to possess. What others
claimed as blessings he set aside to show dependence upon his God. Even Food
and drink reflected his identity. Though he lived among us, our land did not
capture his heart. His heart belonged to God alone, and he lived a life that
pointed us to that truth.
Yet
truth did not make him proud. Even in Belteshazzar’s moments of conviction and
resolve, he never tried to assume authority. He approached me with wisdom,
modesty and a plan when he requested a special diet. He showed wisdom not only
in matters of learning, but also in matters of the human heart.
In
choosing Belteshazzar I have chosen well for my king, for Belteshazzar is a
young man who displays wisdom and understanding beyond his years, as well as
great loyalty. The months and years ahead will tell whether Babylon will become
Belteshazzar’s true home, or whether he will forever remain Daniel, servant of
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Ashpenaz,
Chief
Court Official
But you cannot tell a complete
story of Daniel without mentioning his friends (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah)
They are all stewards in a
foreign land.
Daniel
2:48-49
Whatever
God entrusts to our keeping, whether gifts of ability, intellect, possessions,
position or financial prosperity, he places those gifts in our lives to bless
others and to further his purposes. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (also known
as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), along with Daniel, found themselves in
Babylon, captives temporarily living in exile. Yet they clung to their purpose
in life: to love God and to love and serve others. These four men became models
of living out one’s life for God in difficult circumstances.
- They chose a modest lifestyle (see
Dan. 1:3-20).
- Daniel
used his spiritual gifts to glorify God and bless others (see Dan. 2:1- 47)
- Daniel
risked his life to save pagan magicians from the king’s wrath (See Dan. 2:24)
- Daniel
used his position and power to bless others (see Dan. 2:48-49).
- Daniel’s
friends responded to the king with respect and humility after proving their God
was greater than his (See Dan. 3:1-30)
- Daniel
recognised that his gifts were to be used not for indulging his own pleasure
but to bring about God’s purposes (See Dan. 5:13-23).
- During
the Jews’ captivity in Babylon, Daniel and his friends heeded God’s words through Jeremiah and worked
for the good of their captors (see Dan. 9:1-2), refusing the spirit of
resistance proposed by Jeremiah’s opponents (See Jer. 28:1-29:23)
Daniel
and his fiends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are models of the sojourner life
we are all called to as servants of Christ. As they lived and worked in a
foreign land, they sought the good of those around them and lived their lives
seeking the will of God.
Note that they were able to do
these things and lived their lives the ways they did, enduring persecution, difficult
circumstances, because of the power of knowledge and wisdom given to them by
God. The knowledge and wisdom made them to be humble and loyal despite their
various outstanding achievements, position and possessions in the foreign land.
To
these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of
literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all
kinds. (Daniel 1:17 NIV)
Are you aware of this power?
The power of knowledge and understanding that could interpret clearly visions
and dreams of all kinds.
In
every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them,
he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his
whole kingdom. (Daniel 1: 20 NIV)
Because of the wisdom and
understanding that God gave to them, the king after questioning them found them
ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
The
king said to Daniel,
I
have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight,
intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought
before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not
explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to
solve difficult problems. (Daniel 5:14-16 NIV)
Note:
the power of wisdom, insight and knowledge that God gives can be used for
interpretations and to solve difficult problems. Are you aware of this power?
And if you are aware of this power given to you, why can’t you display,
manifest and demonstrate it rather than sitting on it.