Sunday School Lesson: God Answers Prayer

Purpose: To be reminded that God’s answers to our prayers give us the opportunity to fulfill covenantal obligations to others.

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:1-14

I know you’ve all fantasized about what you would ask for if you were given three wishes.

If God were to reveal Himself to you and give you that opportunity, what would be your top 3 wishes?

Given three wishes, what do you think most folks would ask for?

I believe that in our culture, the answer to that would, most of the time, be totally self-centered and materialistic. Those born from 1970 to 1999 have now been dubbed “Generation Me” by one modern psychology professor and share one common trait: this generation is “unapologetically focused on the individual”. In her book Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled - And More Miserable - Than Ever Before, Jean M. Twenge, Ph. D. describes a generation whose greatest goals are to “follow our dreams” and to “find ourselves”. Despite these goals (maybe because of them) the Generation Me-ers are for the most part miserable and depressed.

Solomon, in the early years of his reign, was offered a much greater opportunity than a genie in a bottle. Solomon was approached by God, who said “Ask for whatever you want...” What better opportunity to satisfy personal needs and wants could you ask for?

“Whatever you want”.

Think about that for a moment. “Whatever you want.”

“Whatever” is a huge word.

What would you say if God made that offer? Let me start a list. The first thing on my list would likely be, “Every day, for the rest of my life, offer me whatever I want.” That ought to cover it.
Solomon, however, made an altogether different request.

1Ki 3:5 ESV
(5) At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."

What request did Solomon make of God and for what purpose?

1Ki 3:9 ESV
(9) Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"

When given the opportunity to ask for anything in the world, Solomon asked for wisdom. This is one verse where various translations can offer different thoughts.

In the ESV and NRSV, Solomon asks for an “understanding mind”. In the KJV and NIV this is translated as “understanding heart.”

What is the difference, if any, between an “understanding mind” and “understanding heart”?

There may be no real, tangible distinction in the choice of words, but do you get a different thought or idea in your mind when thinking of either “understanding mind” or “understanding heart”?

When we speak of the mind what are we referring to?

When we speak of the mind, we speak of intellect, rational and logical thought.

When we speak of the heart (not the organ) what are we usually referring to?

When we speak of the heart we speak of emotions, affections, and compassions.

Which (the mind or the heart) do you think is a more accurate description of Solomon’s request?

When we pray for wisdom, which is more likely to be what we are seeking, an understanding mind or an understanding heart?

Wisdom reflects a balance between the two. Wisdom needs both an understanding mind and an understanding heart.

Which is more needed to be a good Christian?

Both.

Christian faith needs wisdom. Christians need both a discerning mind and a discerning heart. God gave us minds and intended for us to be rational creatures. We must apply our God- given logic to our Christian beliefs and moral principles. Many people in our world see faith and reason as polar opposites that require a person to choose one or the other.

Is faith irrational?

Faith transcends rationality. Our faith is not limited to that which we can merely understand with our intellect. Faith does not oppose reason, but reason can only take us so far. Faith transcends reason and allows us to believe and follow and commit ourselves even when we do not entirely understand. We must use our discerning mind and intellectual powers in the pursuit of truth. We must be willing to recognize the limits of reason and be open to God’s leading which we can perceive but cannot understand.

How can we relate wisdom to an “understanding heart”?

A discerning heart involves the inner core of a human being. It has to do with the direction toward which one is oriented and to whom or what one is open. A part of being in right relationship with God is to intentionally position one’s inner being toward God, to be constantly aware of God’s presence, always open to God’s leading.

When Solomon asked for a discerning heart, he was petitioning God to empower him to discriminate wisely between those things that were in accord with God’s will and those that were not. Solomon was the religious leader as well as the political leader of his people. As such he must be able to judge right from wrong. His need for wisdom was not only to perceive the right course of action for himself, but to make the right decisions for his people.

Solomon’s very first use of his newly bestowed wisdom immediately follows today’s scripture lesson. In that story, Solomon is approached by two women arguing over an infant. This is a famous story and rightly so as it demonstrates clearly the wisdom of Solomon. The story of these women illustrates the power of a discerning heart. Solomon probably did not have the technological knowhow (DNA test) to decide their case by logic and reasoning.

How did he know what the reactions of the two women meant?

He knew in his heart.

The Message gives yet another way to view Solomon’s request for wisdom:

1Ki 3:9-12 MSG
(9) "Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"
(10) God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon's response.
(11) And God said to him, "Because you have asked for this and haven't grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well,
(12) I'll give you what you've asked for--I'm giving you a wise and mature heart. There's never been one like you before; and there'll be no one after.

A God-listening heart. Doesn’t that span both the understanding heart and the understanding mind?

How does these various translation help you define “wisdom”?

What are some traits in people that you consider “wise”?

In whom do you see some of these traits today?

How does biblical wisdom challenge some of the currently accepted political, social, or economic definitions of “wisdom”?

How would our nation be different if we truly lived according to God’s wisdom?

Notice that Solomon asked for discernment to carry out his duties to his people. What did he not ask God for?

He did not ask God to do the job for him.

Should we ask God to do for us the things that with His guidance we can do ourselves?

How do we ask for that guidance?

We ask for wisdom to know what to do and the courage and strength to do it.

What did God give Solomon in addition to wisdom?

1Ki 3:13 ESV
(13) I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s request and responded with much more than Solomon had asked for.

1Ki 3:10 ESV
(10) It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

This verse gives us a glimpse into the mind of God. What do you see there?

Can you think of any New Testament promises to Christians that are similar to what God promised Solomon?

Mat 6:31-33 ESV
(31) Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
(32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
(33) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Solomon asked for wisdom, not wealth, but God gave him wealth and a long life as well. Does God promise us riches?

God does promise us to have what we need if we put His will first. We must, like Solomon, keep our priorities where they belong.

Joh 15:7 ESV
(7) If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

What promise is made to us here?

What conditions are given in this promise?
1. We must abide in God.
2. God’s word must abide in us.
3. We must ask.

Why is it important that we ask?

Doesn’t it say somewhere else that God knows what we need before we ask?

Mat 6:7-8 ESV
(7) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
(8) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Why do we need to ask if God knows what we need already?

From John Wesley’s Commentary:

Mat 6:8 - Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of - We do not pray to inform God of our wants. Omniscient as he is, he cannot be informed of any thing which he knew not before: and he is always willing to relieve them. The chief thing wanting is, a fit disposition on our part to receive his grace and blessing. Consequently, one great office of prayer is, to produce such a disposition in us: to exercise our dependence on God; to increase our desire of the things we ask for; to us so sensible of our wants, that we may never cease wrestling till we have prevailed for the blessing.

Do you think that God is ready to give us everything we want but doesn’t simply because we don’t ask?

Jam 4:2-3 ESV
(2) You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
(3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Does that answer the previous question?

Do you think God is ever bothered by our asking?

What are some ways the world defines wisdom? Which of these are compatible with Christianity and which are not? Why?

Why do you think Solomon valued wisdom over everything else?

Is wisdom superior to everything else?

God gave Solomon more than he asked for. Do you think that those who seek and practice the wisdom of God are also blessed with earthly rewards? Why, or why not?

Why do you think wisdom is so hard to attain? What are the obstacles to acquiring it in our world today?

How great was the wisdom that God gave Solomon?

God promised to make Solomon a unique individual, the wisest man who ever lived. We should realize that wisdom is much more than the ability to discern good from evil. The wise person always recognizes and chooses the good. One who recognizes the difference and chooses evil is a fool.

Pro 14:16 ESV
(16) One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Solomon’s gift is more than just the ability to know righteousness; it is the ability to choose righteousness. Wisdom is both the ability to discern what is best and the strength of character to act upon that knowledge.

How much does our culture value wisdom?

If you were to make the offer of either wisdom or riches to the average man on the street, what do you think he would choose?

How do we become people who value wisdom over riches?

How would a deep value of wisdom benefit us?

What does a lack of valuing wisdom cost us?

When we pray, for what do we most often ask?

Are our prayers most often intercessions for others or personal requests?

What about in church? What concerns do we typically pray for during our worship services?

What can we do this week to place a higher value on wisdom?

How can we seek God’s wisdom as a matter of habit?