Seventh-Day Adventist Devotional For Children: “The Path Of Wisdom”

*DAILY BREAD – A DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries

*THEME: I WILL GO* z

Friday, May 27, 2022

Topic: The path of wisdom

_God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt… And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations…He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:29-30, 31b-34)_

Solomon chose the path of Wisdom. He humbly acknowledged God’s kindness in making him king and his inadequacy to lead without God’s wisdom and knowledge. God, true to His promise, willingly granted Solomon’s request. God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire…therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.” And when God promises, He delivers.
God, the creator and source of all wisdom, let Solomon in on some of His knowledge—and the world took notice! As the years went by and Solomon’s fame increased, he sought to honor God by adding to his mental and spiritual strength, and by continuing to impart to others the blessings he received. None understood better than he that it was through the favor of Jehovah that he had come into possession of power and wisdom and understanding, and that these gifts were bestowed that he might give to the world a knowledge of the King of kings.
Solomon took an especial interest in natural history, but his researches were not confined to any one branch of learning. Through a diligent study of all created things, both animate and inanimate, he gained a clear conception of the Creator. In the forces of nature, in the mineral and the animal world, and in every tree and shrub and flower, he saw a revelation of God’s wisdom; and as he sought to learn more and more, his knowledge of God and his love for Him constantly increased.
Solomon’s divinely inspired wisdom found expression in songs of praise and in many proverbs. In the proverbs of Solomon are outlined principles of holy living and high endeavor, principles that are heaven-born and that lead to godliness, principles that should govern every act of life. It was the wide teaching and practice of these principles, and the recognition of God as the One to whom all praise and honor belong, that made Solomon’s early reign a time of moral uplift as well as of material prosperity….
The book of Proverbs urges us to listen to wisdom and choose its path and the conclusion of the whole matter is found in Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil”. This conclusion corresponds with the beginning of wisdom in Proverbs. So, the fear of the LORD is not just the beginning of wisdom, it is also the middle and end of wisdom, enabling us to stay on the path of wisdom to eternal life.
Wisdom that results from the fear of the LORD and our humble surrender to God is the only hope for us and the only hope for our broken world. Let our oft-repeated prayer for ourselves and for one another be as found in Col. 1: 9-10.

*Song*
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

*Prayer*
Dear Lord, we continually ask that you fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Amen