“So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9, NASB)
Interesting thought here. What would we ask for if we could ask for anything? More money or security? Better health? A different life situation? World peace and freedom from the fear of war? Did you think life would be better than it has turned out?
So, what would you ask of God? God gave this delightful dilemma to Solomon. Solomon could ask for anything, and he chose wisely. He wanted “an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.” And God was very pleased with this response, because the wisdom Solomon asked for would benefit God’s people. Remember, Solomon called the recipients who would benefit from God’s wisdom, “Your people.”
So it’s not just what we ask, but more importantly, why we would ask. Does the request benefit others or just us? The real truth is a paradox: in serving others, we ourselves are blessed. In asking God for a heart to serve others for their benefit, we receive more blessing that we could ever imagine.
I met with a man from Marble Falls, Texas, not long ago who had contacted me regarding the possibility of starting a Links Fellowship in his area. I asked him, “What led you to contact us?” I loved his candid response: “First, I prayed about this. I am in a very busy time in my life and I wanted to understand why I should do this. I just knew God would respond through events that would happen, and I hoped that I would do this for all the right reasons. I want all my golf buddies to know and love Jesus.” I love that response.
I also loved the response given by my good friend, Don, as we left a Links Fellowship recently. Don’s wife had recently asked him, “Don, what is on your bucket list?” Don quickly responded with the first thought in his head, “I don’t really have a bucket list. I just want to grow closer to God and closer to you in the process.” Don has taken the apostle Paul’s command to love our wives as Christ loved the church literally. When he does that, all benefit. God supplies more than what we could ever ask. Solomon found God’s blessing by asking God for wisdom in serving and leading His people well.
God is always looking for men and women whom He can use and trust with His message. You see, it really is God’s story and His message. He uses and equips any who ask and seek for all the better reasons. I know He will honor those who get involved with His work for the right reasons. Again, it is not necessarily what we are doing, but why we are doing it. And God knows why even before we ask.
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Randy Wolff
November 4, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.