When Solomon had become king, “God appeared to Solomon and said, ‘Ask what I should give you’ ” (II Chronicles 1:7). God’s question to Solomon provides an interesting exercise for us as well: if God offered to grant us one request, what would we ask for?

Solomon decided to ask for wisdom to govern the people well (1:10). God seems to have liked this request; because Solomon had not asked for wealth or honor, for a long life for himself or a short life for his enemies, God responded by granting him the wisdom he would need, and promising wealth and honor as well (1:11-12).

In the popular way the story has been told down the generations, we speak of “the wisdom of Solomon” in an astonished and legendary manner. Yet we should note that Solomon did not think of it this way. He had enough self-critical awareness to realize that this would not be an accurate assessment. He knew himself well enough to recognize that he needed a gift from God in order to govern well: it would be God’s wisdom working through Solomon, rather than his own brilliance, that would make the difference.

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We need your wisdom, O Lord. Grant us your grace, we pray: first to enlighten our minds to discern the right thing (for we are too often self-serving rather than self-critical), and then to motivate our hearts to put your purpose into practice (for we are too often content to follow you with our words and not also with our actions).