1 Kings 3:4-15
There is a particular kind of discomfort that comes with not knowing.
We want to know what comes next. We want to understand why things happen the way they do. We want to make the right decision, offer the right advice, and feel confident that we are heading in the right direction. Uncertainty can leave us feeling vulnerable, especially when others are looking to us for answers.
We often assume that wisdom means knowing what to do. But the story of Solomon reminds us that wisdom may begin somewhere else entirely: with the willingness to admit that we don’t know.
In 1 Kings 3, Solomon has just become king of Israel. He is young, his responsibilities are enormous, and the decisions before him will affect an entire people. When God appears to him in a dream and invites him to ask for whatever he desires, Solomon does not ask for riches, a long life, or victory over his enemies. Instead, he acknowledges his inexperience and asks for an understanding heart so that he can govern the people well and discern between good and evil. Before Solomon asks for wisdom, he admits that he needs it.
Solomon doesn’t pretend to have everything figured out. He doesn’t mistake the authority of his position for the certainty of his knowledge. He recognizes that the task before him is greater than his own experience and understanding.
And maybe that is where wisdom begins for us, too.
We live in a world that often rewards confidence more than humility. We’re encouraged to have an opinion, take a position, and defend it. Changing our minds can be seen as weakness, and admitting that we don’t know something can feel like failure. Even in the church, we can fall into the temptation of believing that faith should give us all the answers.
But faith does not eliminate uncertainty. More often than not, faith gives us the courage to live honestly within it.
There are questions we cannot answer easily. Why does suffering fall upon some people and not others? What is the right response when good people disagree? How do we faithfully navigate a changing world, especially when the familiar ways of doing things no longer seem to fit? What does God ask of us when the way forward is unclear?
We may be tempted to reach quickly for an answer, particularly one that confirms what we already believe. But there are times when the most faithful response is to pause, listen, and acknowledge that we have more to learn.
Not knowing does not mean we have failed. It means we are human. And when we approach that uncertainty with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to listen, it can become the beginning of deeper understanding.
Notice, too, that Solomon doesn’t ask for wisdom to feel more secure or to prove himself capable. He asks for it because others are depending on him. His wisdom is meant to serve the people entrusted to his care. The point is to become someone who can listen carefully, judge fairly, and act with compassion.
Wisdom is not about winning arguments or demonstrating that we are right. It is about becoming more attentive to the needs of others, more thoughtful in our decisions, and more willing to recognize when our own perspective is incomplete.
Maybe the next time we face a difficult decision, we might begin with a different prayer. Rather than asking God to confirm that we are right, we might ask God to help us see what we are missing. Rather than asking for certainty, we might ask for the courage to take the next faithful step. Rather than rushing to speak, we might ask for the patience to listen.
We don’t need to know everything to move forward faithfully. We need enough humility to recognize our limitations, enough openness to learn, and enough trust to believe that God can meet us even in our uncertainty.
Sometimes, the first sign of wisdom is not knowing the answer, rather it is being willing to ask the question.
Take some time to sit with the 1 Kings 3 reading and as you do, I invite you to use the following questions to guide your reflections:
- Where in your life are you feeling pressure to have all the answers?
- When was the last time you changed your mind because you listened to someone else’s perspective?
- Is there a question or situation where you might benefit from approaching it with greater humility and openness?
- What might change if, instead of asking God to give you certainty, you asked for the wisdom to take the next faithful step?
You don’t need to answer every question. Sometimes, noticing which one stays with you is a place to begin.
Let’s pray:
God of wisdom and wonder, help us to be honest about what we do not know. Give us open hearts to listen, humble spirits to learn, and courage to move forward when the way is unclear. May our search for wisdom help us care more deeply for one another and live more faithfully in your world. AMEN