- 1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
- James 4:10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
- James 4:6 / 1 Peter 5:5: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
- Matthew 23:12: “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
- Proverbs 29:23: “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
- Micah 6:8: “…what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Are you blessed? Thank God. Focus on God, your Creator. Your sole reason for existence. He created you with and for a purpose! Turn to God always!
We actually turn our hearts to His-Story – The Bible and see examples of when wisdom given by God’s was received and nurtured.
In the Bible, divine wisdom (chokmâh) is a gift from God that is received through humility and nurtured through prayer, obedience, and mentorship.
Examples of Receiving and Nurturing God’s Wisdom
- King Solomon (1 Kings 3; 1 Kings 4)
- How it was received: Young Solomon asked God for an “understanding heart” to govern His people and discern right from wrong rather than asking for wealth, long life, or the death of his enemies. God was pleased and granted him unmatched wisdom. We will return to this and see exactly why remaining solely focused on God is stressed throughout Scripture.
- How it was nurtured: Solomon actively practiced and applied this discernment—such as resolving the dispute between two mothers—and systematically recorded his wisdom by composing 3,000 proverbs, songs, and studies of the natural world.
- Daniel (Daniel 1; Daniel 2)
- How it was received: Daniel and his companions remained faithful to God’s dietary and spiritual laws while living in Babylonian exile, and God endowed them with knowledge, skill in literature, and deep understanding.
- How it was nurtured: Daniel nurtured this gift through a disciplined daily life of prayer, reliance on God during high-stakes moments (such as interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams), and remaining humble by giving God all the credit.
- Bezalel (Exodus 31; Exodus 35)
- How it was received: God explicitly filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him divine wisdom, craftsmanship, and artistic intelligence to design the Tabernacle.
- How it was nurtured: Bezalel nurtured this wisdom through hands-on obedience—putting the divine blueprint into physical work and training other skilled artisans to help build God’s dwelling place.
- Jesus Christ (Luke 2:40-52)
- How it was received: As a child, Jesus grew physically and spiritually, and the text notes that “the grace of God was upon Him” and He “increased in wisdom and in stature”.
- How it was nurtured: Jesus nurtured His wisdom through deep immersion in the Scriptures, listening to and questioning teachers in the temple, and consistently aligning His daily life with His Father’s will.
Key Ways Wisdom is Nurtured in Scripture
- Asking in Faith: James 1:5 instructs believers to ask God directly for wisdom, noting that He gives generously without finding fault.
- The Fear of the Lord: Proverbs and Job emphasize that reverence for God is the starting point and foundation of all true wisdom.
- Walking with the Wise: Proverbs 13:20 notes that “whoever walks with the wise grows wise,” highlighting the need for godly counsel, community, and mentorship.
Now, we return to Solomon and his wisdom; yet, he received wives/concubines that turned his heart from God.
King Solomon was famed for his extraordinary divine wisdom and great wealth, yet his life and kingdom ended up divided because of his disobedience to God’s laws.
King Solomon was the third and final king of the unified United Kingdom of Israel, famous for his extraordinary wealth, his massive building projects—including the First Temple in Jerusalem—and his God-given wisdom.
Bible Summary of King Solomon
- Rise to Power: Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was anointed king toward the end of David’s life after neutralizing political rivals.
- The Gift of Wisdom: Early in his reign at Gibeon, God invited Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for an “understanding heart” to govern God’s people, which pleased God so much that He granted him wisdom alongside unmatched riches and honor.
- The Golden Age: Under Solomon’s 40-year reign (c. 965–931 BC), Israel reached its peak in territorial reach, commerce, and architectural glory. He built the monumental Jerusalem Temple and wrote or inspired much of the Bible’s wisdom literature (traditionally associated with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs).
- Decline and Fall: In his later years, Solomon accumulated hundreds of foreign wives and concubines (700 wives, 300 concubines). These women turned his heart toward foreign idols, leading him to build high places of worship for other gods.
- Division of the Kingdom: Because of Solomon’s apostasy and idolatry, God announced that the kingdom would be torn away from his dynasty, leaving only the southern tribe of Judah for his son Rehoboam, while the northern tribes seceded.
Key Teaching Points
- The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom: True wisdom is not merely high IQ or cleverness, but a humble reverence, reliance, and obedience toward God.
- Prioritizing God’s Purpose: When Solomon asked for discernment to serve others rather than fame or personal wealth, God provided the rest. Seeking first what honors God aligns our priorities correctly.
- Compromise is a Slippery Slope: Even the wisest man in the world fell into moral and spiritual compromise. Small, gradual detours from God’s commands (such as marrying foreign wives who turned his heart away) can erode a lifetime of faithfulness.
- A Cautionary Tale of Finishing Well: Solomon started with massive spiritual potential and deep favor, but finished in division and idolatry. The Bible uses his life as a warning to guard one’s heart to the very end.
- Pointing Forward to a Greater King: Solomon’s brilliant yet flawed reign highlights human failure. Jesus later stated that “something greater than Solomon is here”, pointing to a permanent, sinless Messianic king from David’s line.
Wisdom and Achievements
- The Gift of Wisdom: In a dream at Gibeon, Solomon asked God for an “understanding heart” to govern Israel and judge between good and evil rather than asking for wealth or long life (1 Kings 3:9).
- Famous Judgment: He famously resolved a dispute between two women claiming the same surviving infant by ordering the baby to be split in half, identifying the true mother through her compassionate plea to spare the child’s life (1 Kings 3:16–28).
- Global Renown: Leaders and people from all nations traveled to hear his wisdom (1 Kings 4:34), and he built the First Temple in Jerusalem.
Causes of Division
- Violation of Deuteronomy 17: Solomon directly disobeyed the Torah’s commands for kings by multiplying horses (and relying on Egypt), accumulating excessive silver and gold, and marrying foreign women (1 Kings 11:1–3).
- Foreign Wives and Idolatry: He accumulated 700 wives and 300 concubines, many from foreign nations, whose worship of false idols turned his heart away from exclusive devotion to God (1 Kings 11:4).
- A Divided Kingdom: Because of his spiritual compromise and idolatry, God announced that the united kingdom of Israel would be torn apart after his death, splitting into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah under his successor (1 Kings 11:11–13).
Pray always, keep your focus on Jesus.
Keeping your focus on Jesus involves building consistent spiritual habits and turning to prayer throughout your daily routine. [1, 2]
Core Practices for Staying Focused
- Pray Continually: Practice a rhythm of constant, short prayers throughout the day as recommended in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
- Immerse in Scripture: Read the Bible daily to keep your attention anchored on the words and life of Christ.
- Bring Worries Immediately: Hand over anxieties, fears, and frustrations to Jesus right away instead of dwelling on them.
- Engage Christian Community: Surround yourself with fellow believers through church fellowship for mutual encouragement and accountability.
- Guard Your Senses: Be mindful of what you watch, listen to, and think about, choosing worship music or uplifting content to redirect your mind.
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