I’m excited to feature today’s guest blogger, Stephen De La Vega. I first connected with Stephen through social media. As I read his writing and explored his blog, I became a fan. He has a heart for God and a love for people. His blog posts are meaty – they challenge and often help me see scripture in a new way. He is both a Bible study leader and author whose desire is to allow God’s Spirit to lead him and others into deeper relationship and understanding.

Wisdom was nicely packaged in a dreamy, delectable fruit dangling from a forbidden tree.

At least, that’s how it seemed for the woman…

No, this isn’t the opening line from a romance novel. It’s our history.

It’s the framing of an eternity apart from God when you spin it from a crafty serpent’s vantage point.

But the fruit was supposed to be looked upon with reverence and awe toward God, the Creator, by anyone who fears Him.

We can read about this fruit in Genesis 2 and 3, and we can recall the passing events that determined the fate of humankind.

A universal death sentence, all because someone aspired toward something good (wisdom), but in a way that dismissed the required reverence toward God.

And Adam continued to dismiss fear of God as he attempted to cover up sin and hide from His Creator.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

AND

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 1:7

King Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs. He had “wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.

Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt” 1 Kings 4:29-30.

How did he become so wise?

It began with his fear of God – but how did Solomon obtain matchless wisdom?

The short answer: He asked God for it.

Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people. 2 Chronicles 1:1

He asked God, but there was more to his request than a simple prayer.

His petition was accompanied by godly character and practices – he lived his life with a heart of worship, humility, and submission.

Before Solomon was known for his matchless wisdom, he was known by his heart of worship.

Solomon was the most wealthy, powerful, and magnificent king the world had ever known. Yet his focus was not on those things that wealth, power, or magnificence can summon.

His focus was on God and the first thing he did after establishing himself as king was to worship.

He didn’t use the position to elevate himself – he used it to worship God and lead all of his officials to do the same.

This was very intentional as they traveled 7 miles together, bringing with them 1,000 sacrifice-worthy animals to perform 1,000 burnt offerings. It was an extended, large-scale, corporate event that was an expression of Solomon’s heart of worship. (2 Chronicles 1:1-6)

Why is worship so important in acquiring wisdom?

Chip Ingram framed it nicely as he referred to Isaiah 6:1-7:

“First, worship brings an upward look, a glance at God on His throne in all His glory. It refocuses our view of God. It pulls our affections off our idols and puts them onto God. It causes us to remember how good He is, how big, kind, powerful, and loving He is, and how holy He is.”

“Second, worship brings an inward look. When you see God for who He really is, as Isaiah did, you start to see yourself for who you really are. You start seeing things in your heart and in your life that really didn’t bother you before. But notice that after Isaiah saw and confessed his sinfulness, he also experienced the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God. That’s what happens when you really worship.”

www.crosswalk.com Worship: The Key to Drawing Near to God, 11/10/2017

Through worship, we see God for who He really is, and we see ourselves for who we really are. Proper perspective of our relationship to God produces humility – true humility, not false piety.

Before Solomon was known for his matchless wisdom, he viewed life’s questions through a lens of humility.

When God asked the big question, “What can I give you?,” Solomon recounted what God had done for his father and for him.He appreciated Him.

He worshiped Him.

He paid tribute to Him.

Then he humbly asked for wisdom. He said, “…who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Notice Solomon’s humble heart in 2 Chronicles 1:8-10:

• He acknowledged God’s love for David
• He acknowledged God’s appointment of him as king
• He understood that God is LORD
• He understood that he and David received their notable positions from God
• He understood that leadership is not about lordship
• He approached his position as if the people are great, and not really himself

If God asked, What can I give you? How would I respond? Click To Tweet

I would stutter, at first, then stutter some more. And even if I took the time to write my response, I’m afraid wisdom may not stack up against other things I care about.

Solomon praised and thanked God before petitioning Him.

How often do I bless God instead of asking Him to bless me or my loved ones?

Even Solomon’s petition was for the benefit of God and others. It wasn’t for himself. Solomon’s humility produced in him a heart that yielded to God’s will and plan before himself. He was submissive to God.

Before Solomon was known for his matchless wisdom…

He made decisions and took actions with intentional submission to God.

Humility broadens our perspectives so that we recognize what is important to God and the needs of others whom He loves.

It encourages us to look beyond ourselves, and ask God what priorities need to be rearranged or introduced anew.

Humility leads to submission – yielding to God’s will and plan for ourselves as individuals.

In addition to yielding to God in corporate worship, 1 Kings 3:7-11 offers more about Solomon’s submissive heart:

• He called the people God’s people
• He asked for a listening heart
• He wanted to do what is right

God knew Solomon requested wisdom so that he could be effective for Him. It was an unconditional request – expectant, yes, but only because He knew God would not abandon a yielded heart.

Solomon had it all, yet his focus was on God – he didn’t bask in his riches or glory. He didn’t boast of his prominence or lord it over people. He lived for God, did what was right, and governed with wisdom and understanding 2 Chronicles 1:13.

Oh, how I fall short of this.

I ask myself:

Do I worship God in my everyday life?
Do I consider others better than myself?
Do I put God’s priorities before my own?
Do I sacrifice for Him?

Do I truly fear God?

We can serve God with the same wisdom, because the wisdom was not Solomon’s. It was God’s – available to him through his heart of worship, humility, and submission.

When we have hearts like Solomon’s, God will achieve the milestones He specifically laid for each of us.

Stephen De La Vega met Jesus as His Savior in the 80s and served God in various capacities ever since.  In 2017, he published his first Bible study series for small groups and began blogging about practical Christian living.

Stephen currently leads a Bible study at his workplace and another in a home setting.  He believes the study of God’s Word should be a priority for every person who trusts Jesus as Savior, and spiritual growth is utterly dependent on it.  So, God’s Word is central to everything he writes.

Stephen and his wife have three sons and live in California.  You can get to know him here:
http://www.stephendelavega.com/
https://twitter.com/AuthorSDeLaVega
https://www.facebook.com/authordlv/
https://www.instagram.com/authordlv/
https://www.pinterest.com/authordlv/
https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-De-La-Vega/e/B06XFLTD3L/