Goodday guys, read & remain blessed.

To make a decision is to decide to take a certain course of action. Whatever action is taken, it will affect us and those around us for good or bad. Hence, it is important that before we take any actions, we must examine the issues from all sides, weigh the pros and cons before arriving at as definite decision. If the action is not injurious, but right in the sight of God and will bring happiness to the greater number of people, then it is a wise decision. Usually, such wise decisions lead to the permanent solutions of problems.

If, on the other hand, the action to be taken will only benefit our selfish needs, while it remains contrary to God's will and less beneficial to the greater number of people, then it is an unwise decision. Such unwise decision usually end up in creating more and more problems with disastrous consequences.

In then Bible, we read of king Solomon making both wise and unwise decisions. His son, Rehoboam followed him in making bad decisions. From the actions of Solomon, we must learn to be consistent in our decisions. We must strived to wise decisions, while making every effort to avoid taking bad decisions.

WISE DECISIONS

King Solomon who ruled after David, is credited with having made two important wise decisions during his reign. The first consisted in rejecting wealth and asking for wisdom and understanding to govern the Israelites. The second was in the decision to build a temple for God; building the temple and officiating at the dedication of the temple.

SOLOMON'S PRAYER FOR WISDOM

In the early part of Solomon's reign, he loved the Lord and he demonstrated this by walking in all the statutes of David, his father. The only snag was that he sacrificed to God at the high places or former Canaanites centres of worship because no temple had yet been built for the worship of God.

Before the temple was built, Gibeon was the most important centre for the worship of the Lord. Solomon used to come to Gibeon regularly to offer burnt offering in praise of God at the altar there. One day, while Solomon was at Gibeon to sacrifice to the Lord, he had a dream, God appeared to him in the dream and said: "Ask what I shall give you."

Solomon was to ask anything and God will do it for him. In response to the Divine request, Solomon said: "Thou has shown great and steadfast love to thy servant David my father, because he walked before thee in faithfulness and in uprightness of heart towards thee; and thou has kept for him this great and steadfast love, and had given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou has made thy servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?"

God was very pleased with Solomon because he asked for wisdom and not riches, and for this God gave him wisdom and great Wealth: "Because you have asked this, (wisdom) and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding mind to discern what is right, behold I do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you, has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour, so that no other king shall compare with you all your days. And if you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days".

When Solomon woke up the morning, he realised it was a dream. He then proceeded to Jerusalem, the capital and there before the Ark of the convenant of the Lord, Solomon offered burnt and peace offerings and then made s feast for all his servants.

Solomon made good use of his wisdom in deciding the case of the two harlots; each claiming the same child. Both harlots have birth at the same time, but one lost her child and exchanged it for the living child of the other. When this was discovered, the case taken to Solomon to decide. Solomon directed that the living child be killed and the one whose child had died supported the decision. But the real mother of the child protested that the living child should instead be given to the other woman. King Solomon then knew the child belonged to the woman who protested the killing of the child and then gave the child to her.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOLOMON'S PRAYER FOR WISDOM

Solomon's request for wisdom and God's response in giving him wisdom indicates the special nature of wisdom. Wisdom is seen as a special gift from God and it is the key to success in life. By rejecting material things and asking for wisdom in order to succeed in life, Solomon made a wise decision. As Christians we are to follow the good example of Solomon, and ask for wisdom and understanding from God so as to succeed in life.

As a result of the wisdom that God gave Solomon, Solomon became a man of wisdom. He was known worldwide as s man of wisdom. He was wiser than all the wise men of his days, Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda. He uttered 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. He spoke about birds, trees, reptiles and fish. Solomon became so famous for his wisdom that people came from all over the world to hear the wisdom of Solomon. In the end, there emerged the saying : "As wise as Solomon".

Hope you were blessed by this. Thanks and see you in my next article.