Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer?” Well, probably not because they are usually talking about someone else and their inability to “get it.” So here is an honest confession: I know I’m not always the sharpest knife in the drawer. I can pawn it off these days to my age (72) or to my lack of knowing the “now” lingo of this current generation. For example, our youth pastor has just begun mentoring our part-time Children’s Ministry Director and has tasked her with “glowing up” a couple of the youth classrooms. Say what? What in the world is “glowing up?” By a process of elimination (including my mind) I figured out that it meant “to make the classroom come alive, to not be stodgy and cold.” Truthfully, it needs it, but “glowing it up?” (Rolling eyes emoji here).

But I digress. Let’s go back to my original statement: I am not always the sharpest knife in the drawer. There is usually someone smarter than me; someone (most often) more media savvy than me; someone more up-to-date and relevant than me.

But then I started thinking this morning: do I really care? I came to the conclusion, Nope I don’t care. What made me think about that this morning? I was reading 2 Chronicles 1 and Proverbs 8 this morning. The passage in Chronicles is where Solomon is taking over as ruler for his father, David, and in 1:7 God asks him, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” I seriously doubt I or many in this day and age would answer as Solomon did: “Give me wisdom and knowledge to lead them (the people as numerous as the dust of the earth-v.9) properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” (v.10). God’s answer is classic: “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, or fame , or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people-I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested.” (verses 11-12)  Oh…He also gave him wealth, riches, and fame. Sadly, Solomon couldn’t handle it.

I’ve always been impressed by Solomon’s answer and have wondered what I would ask for. I hope at this stage of my life and maturity I would still ask for wisdom and not say, “Live a comfortable life financially and be able to travel anywhere I want (which I don’t want to do anyway).” I hope I would still seek wisdom.  Pr. 8:10-11 says, “Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.”

Okay, time for you to answer: what would you choose to ask for?

{Note: All Scripture from the New Living Translation}