A couple found themselves in a no-win situation. During an intense drought, they faced a $500 fine if they watered their lawn more than twice a week. So in time it turned brown. Local officials noticed and informed them that—in spite of the drought—they were required to keep their grass “looking healthy and green” or face (you guessed it) a $500 fine.
King Solomon also faced a difficult decision. A pair of prostitutes fighting over a child approached him. They each had recently given birth to a baby boy. According to the plaintiff, the other woman’s baby had died, and that woman had switched her dead son with the plaintiff’s live infant.
When Solomon proposed bisecting the child and giving half to each woman (1 Kings 3:25), the plaintiff pleaded for the baby’s life even if she had to give him up. The other woman, however, consented to the king’s plan. Then Solomon said, “Give [the child] to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his real mother” (1 Kings 3:27).
Clearly, Solomon’s good sense came from God (1 Kings 3:10-12), and as he reasoned through the situation . . .
• He made justice his goal (1 Kings 3:28). He didn’t allow personal preferences or interests to cloud his judgment.
• He looked beyond emotion. Solomon restated the facts to create some common ground (1 Kings 3:23).
• He used what was true outside of the situation to show what was true inside of the situation at hand. He knew that a good mother would do anything to protect her child’s life.
Even when there are no easy answers to our problems, God can provide what we need to make good decisions (James 1:5). May He help us to love justice, respect the facts, and focus on truth as we strive to honor Him.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 8:22–9:1
More:
Read Colossians 2:1-3 to see where the “treasures of wisdom” are hidden. Look up Proverbs 11:2 to see the relationship between humility and wisdom.
Next:
When you face a problem, where do you turn first: friends, family, God, the Internet? How can you apply God’s wisdom to a difficult decision today?
Gary Shultz on July 22, 2015 at 6:49 am
Thank God that He is interested in our lives and even details that perplex us. It would seem; however we do not always get common sense, like today’s ODB. I do have to agree that day in day out God gives the basis for sound judgement. There are those times God just says, Here’s what I want you to do, trust me. I did have to smile when you included the internet as an up front problem solver. I do occasionally use it as a technical guide, but really never consider it for life choices, ah, the generation gap. Thanks for keeping us sharp.
jennifer benson schuldt on July 22, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Hi Gary,
Today I have been thinking about an issue which would be so much easier if, as you pointed out, God would say, “Here’s what I want you to do. Trust me.” So far, I haven’t had an answer like that. : ) I’m weighing options. I’m trying to consider all the angles. In all of it, I’m thankful for choices, and for the verse that says, “We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.”
Tom Felten on July 22, 2015 at 11:08 am
So grateful for the wisdom found in Scripture. So many times throughout my life a verse or passage has come to mind as I’ve been needing to make a simple choice or big decision. The Holy Spirit uses out time spent reading and studying Scripture to move us in a direction that is wise/God honoring. May we continue to grow in our knowledge and application of God’s Word.
jennifer benson schuldt on July 22, 2015 at 5:31 pm
The wisdom found in Scripture is timeless. No matter how “modern” our problems seem, the Bible always gets to the core of the issue. For example, I recently read a verse in Proverbs about patience. It was Proverbs 16:32, which says, “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city”. When I see how often God’s Word directs me away from my first instincts, I’m so humbled!
daisymarygoldr on July 22, 2015 at 6:02 pm
True, God gave Solomon the wisdom for rendering justice by restoring the living baby to the real mother.
Jesus Christ claimed to be greater than Solomon. And God made Him to be wisdom itself (1 Corinthians 1:30). Jesus brought justice to victory in restoring us to God our Father while we were dead in our sins.
Today, the Holy Spirit lives in believers, gives us discernment and guides us in applying God’s truth to every difficult decision. Unlike Solomon, when we continue to walk in the fear of God, His wisdom from above enables us to do good and live God-honoring lives.
Winn Collier on August 1, 2015 at 7:11 pm
my wife just used this story a week ago intervening in a brawl between our two sons who were both simply trying to keep the other from gaining any kind of advantage. The story stunned them a little, I think.