One day Rodney found a genie lamp, and when he cleaned it up, a giant, jolly genie popped out of the lamp and granted him just one wish. Rodney thought about it for days. What would he wish for? What did he want and cherish in this world? For the first time in his life, he began to contemplate everything he did. In the morning he would wake up and get dressed, and as was his custom, he would pick up his daily newspaper and look at how the stock market was doing. He would put his wallet into his back pocket, and go to work in his car to make his wages for the day. Why did he do these things? He wanted to have wealth because wealth represented security and control in his life. What person would not want security and control over his life? Maybe Rodney should ask for wealth. What do you think Rodney should ask for?
Now, what if a genie could grant you just one wish? What would you wish for? Would that be a difficult question? Well consider this next true story.
There was a man who was granted a wish. He could ask for anything and it would be granted to him. He could have asked for wealth. After all, wealth would bring him security and control in his life. But think about it. What good is wealth if a person does not know what to do with it? What good is control if a person doesn't have any limitations. In the hands of a fool, wealth and power can cause great devastation not only to himself, but to others as well. So the man wished for discernment. He wished for wisdom. Yes, that man was none other than the third King of Israel, Solomon (1 Kng 3:9). God was pleased that Solomon asked him for wisdom, so he granted him riches and honor in addition to wisdom. A wise man would be able to handle riches and honor.
"Make your ear attentive to wisdom ... If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures ... Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you (Prov 2:2-11)."
It is not wealth, power, or any other such thing that watches over us. It is the wisdom, which comes from God. How can you obtain wisdom? You must search for it as hidden treasure. It is within our reach yet elusive.
" The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Prov 9:10)."
He tells us where to begin. You must begin with God. That is why Solomon asked God for wisdom. When do you know you finally have obtained wisdom. You don't. Indeed, the pursuit of wisdom is a life-long journey that never ends. That is why he tells us to search diligently for it like hidden treasure.
If you could wish for one thing, what would you wish for?