Please Him And Ask For It!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  James 1:5
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In 1 Kings 3 and in 2 Chronicles 1 we see an example of the truth of the words above. It is the account where God says to Solomon, "Ask, what shall I give you." and Solomon's answer was "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?"

God's Response; was to give it liberally and without reproach, "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 have been before you, nor shall any after you have the like." 2 Chronicles 1:1-12

Why? Why does God give wisdom to ALL liberally and without reproach? I believe the answer to that question is found in the 1 Kings 3 account.  When God says, "Ask, what shall I give you." The wording of  Solomon's answer is a little different. In this account it reads, "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice; behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."

In this account the wisdom that he is asking for is the ability to discern between good and evil that he might  be able to judge God's people. He was feeling the weight of his new found role and all the responsibility that came with the job of being king. It says that it pleased God that wisdom or the ability to discern between good and evil was the thing that Solomon asked for. He didn't ask for the list of things that God mentioned because the thing that filled his heart was his desire to do right by God's people. He asked for wisdom because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and what filled his heart when God said, "Ask, what shall I give you." was a response that revealed his heart for the people. What filled his heart was his knowledge that he couldn't do the job without the ability to know the difference between what was right and what was wrong. In his heart he knew He needed God's help to make godly choices on behalf of the people he needed to lead.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and the words that flowed out of his heart and mouth were the words that pleased God so much that He not only gave Solomon the wisdom he asked for but all the things he could have and didn't ask for himself.

Seems to me that if wisdom, or the ability to discern between good and evil, is something that God is pleased to give, and He gives it liberally and without reproach then maybe, we as believers, should please Him and ask for it a whole lot more often!

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7