Solomon is famous for being the wisest person in the Bible. But he didn’t earn that wisdom on his own. It came from God. When Solomon became king, he faced a huge responsibility. Israel was growing, people were watching, and the pressure was intense. One night, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want.” Instead of asking for wealth, long life, or victory over enemies, Solomon asked for wisdom to know right from wrong and to lead God’s people well. God was pleased with that. Because Solomon asked with a heart focused on serving others, God gave him incredible wisdom – and blessings he hadn’t even asked for, like riches and respect from other nations. Solomon’s story shows us that wisdom starts with humility, a desire to serve, and dependence on God. Here are some things we can learn about wisdom:
Wisdom Must Be Applied
Having wisdom is one thing. Using it in your life consistently is another. Solomon showed amazing wisdom in judging disputes and leading Israel, but in his personal life, he didn’t always apply it. King Saul is another example. God gave Saul opportunities to obey, but he only partially followed God’s instructions when he spared King Agag and the best animals (1 Samuel 15:1-23). That partial obedience cost him God’s favour. Solomon also failed here. He let his foreign wives influence him toward idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-8). The lesson is simple: wisdom isn’t just knowing what’s right; it’s actually doing it in every part of your life.
Guard Your Heart
Solomon’s biggest personal failure started in his heart. Many of his wives worshipped other gods, and over time, his heart turned away from God. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Your heart sets the direction for your life. The life of David gives a similar example. He saw Bathsheba and let desire control his choices, leading to sin and consequences (2 Samuel 11:1-5). Wisdom can’t protect you if your heart isn’t fully focused on pleasing God. Guarding your heart requires daily attention, prayer, and a commitment to put God first.
Humility Matters
Solomon received wisdom because he started with humility. He recognized his limits and asked God for help instead of relying on himself. Moses is another example of humility, described as the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3). Humility opens the door to God’s guidance. Pride and self-reliance, on the other hand, can ruin wisdom. Look at Pharaoh – he had power and knowledge, but pride blinded him to God’s plan and led to disaster (Exodus 5 -14).
Accountability Matters
Even the wisest people need accountability. Solomon isolated himself in personal decisions, which contributed to his mistakes (1 Kings 11:9-13). Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, ignored the advice of experienced elders and listened to his peers instead, which led to the kingdom splitting (1 Kings 12:1-19). In contrast, Nehemiah demonstrates the value of accountability. He sought guidance from God and others as he rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls, making decisions carefully and with counsel (Nehemiah 2:11-18; 5:14-19). Accountability protects us from poor decisions and helps us use wisdom the right way.
Takeaways for Your Life
There are some practical lessons we can take from Solomon:
- Wisdom is more than knowing what’s right. It is applying it in all areas of life.
- Guard your heart. What you let in there will shape your actions and decisions.
- Stay humble. Humility opens the door for God to guide you and keeps pride from ruining your decisions.
- Surround yourself with godly counsel. Even the wisest need accountability to stay on the right path.
Solomon’s life is a mix of great wisdom and some significant mistakes. It reminds us that having wisdom isn’t enough; we have to put it into practice in every part of life. Wisdom must be coupled with obedience, a protected heart, humility, and accountability. When we do that, our decisions honour God and lead to blessing. When we ignore these principles, even the smartest and most gifted can stumble. Let’s learn from Solomon. Let’s ask God for wisdom, guard our hearts, stay humble, and invite others into our lives to keep us on track. That is how wisdom becomes powerful in our daily life.