Priorities

The father with "man after God's own heart" fame devoted time to teaching his son.  The son, Solomon, listened.  He also remembered.  In fact, Solomon quoted his father.  Here's a sample.

Proverbs 4:4-7a (NIV)
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
    love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

The Old Testament historical book 1 Kings provides an account of Solomon as a young man recently enthroned as the third King of Israel.  In chapter three, the reader is privy to the content of a conversation between the new king and the almighty LORD.  God opens the dialogue with an amazing offer.  An offer that reminds me of the stories of genies, bottles, and wishes - only this story is true.

1 Kings 3:5 (NIV)
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

For what does Solomon ask?

Wisdom.

Why did Solomon ask for wisdom?  Wisdom rather than riches or long life?  I believe that the answer is found in the Proverbs 4 passage.  Look again at one of those verses.

Proverbs 4:5 (NIV)
Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Solomon's motivation for asking for wisdom started with David, his father.

If you are not a parent, please keep reading this post.
If you are a parent, please keep reading this post and engage your best focusing skills.  We can learn a key truth here.  
Truth:  Our children notice our priorities.

If I were to ask your daughter or son what they thought were the three most important things to you, how would they answer?

Success?
Money?
Education?
Relationship with God?
Family?
Sports?
Self?
Work?

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Entertainment?
Church?
Popularity?
Living in the right place?
Justice?
Each other?
Vacations?
Love?

I have an idea.  Why don't you and I go ask our kids today?  Let's learn what we are modeling and teaching by hearing their answers.

#ordinarylives

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