Training Up Our Children to Pursue Wisdom

Resources/Articles

Edwin Crozier
04/27/14 - Parenting

Training Up Our Children to Pursue Wisdom

Considering the statement of David’s children, I doubt any of us would confuse David with a great father or with the best of fathers. However, that doesn’t mean he got everything wrong in parenting. In fact, this week I discovered something I never knew before about David and Solomon. I hope to follow David’s parenting example with Solomon.

If you are like me, you are in complete awe of the choice Solomon made in II Chronicles 1:7-10. God wanted to bless Solomon and gave him the opportunity to choose any blessing he wanted. Of course, after generations of hearing the genii in the bottle story we might think that the best thing to ask for is more wishes. However, Solomon even topped that. He asked for “wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great” (ESV). Because of this great choice, God said He would not only give Solomon wisdom, but the wealth, fame, and power.

That’s the part we all know. But did you know Solomon didn’t come up with this choice on his own? Do you know where Solomon got his choice from? Until this week, neither did I.

In I Chronicles 22, David charges Solomon with building the temple. He had wanted to build it, but because of his bloodshed, God was going to grant that blessing to his son. So David called Solomon to him and instructed him to build the temple. But notice what he says in I Chronicles 22:11-12: “Now, my son, the LORD be with you so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God” (ESV). In I Chronicles 28:5-8, Solomon heard his father charge all of Israel to seek out God and His commandments so they could possess the land and leave it as an inheritance to their children. In I Chronicles 28:9, David told Solomon: “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever” (ESV). In I Chronicles 29:1, David was realistic with Solomon about his inexperience and the magnitude of the work before him, demonstrating his need for the LORD God. Finally, in I Chronicles 29:19, Solomon heard his father praying for him to have a whole heart from God so he could keep the commandments and actually get the temple built.

Consider this example. David directly taught his son about the need for wisdom from God. He taught him about the magnitude of the work set before him. He let his son hear him tell others about the need to seek God and his wisdom. He let his son hear him seek God’s wisdom for him in prayer.

Knowing that Solomon heard this over and over again from his father, is it really shocking that when given the choice he asked for wisdom from God? He was prepped to make that choice.

That leaves me with a question. Am I prepping my children to make that choice? Am I talking to them about their need for God and His wisdom? Am I praying for them to have God’s wisdom? Am I letting them hear me offer those prayers on their behalf? Do I let them hear me talking to others about everyone’s need for God’s wisdom?

While none of us have had a vision granting us our greatest wish, every day we are choosing to pursue what we wish for the most. Our children will be learning from us what to pursue with that daily choice. Certainly, we may teach them properly and they choose something else. But we still need to ask, what are they learning from us? What choice are we prepping them to make?

—Edwin L. Crozier