Lesson Learned: Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave it to him.
Materials Needed: 2 envelopes, chocolate chips
Bible Verse:
1 Kings 3:5-15
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor —so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke —and he realized it had been a dream.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Talking Points: Solomon is often considered the wisest man that ever lived. He has written many of the Proverbs–or wise sayings–in the Bible. When Solomon was a young man, he became king of Israel. God visits Solomon in a dream and tells him that He will give Solomon anything he asks for. Solomon was such a young king that he felt he didn’t know how to rule the country well so he asks God to give him wisdom and the ability to make good choices. God was glad that Solomon had not been selfish and asked for a bigger house or more money or more friends, and He gives Solomon what He asks for. When you ask God for help with something you need, God will help you too.
Questions: What did Solomon ask God for? If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask Him for? Why?
Activity:
Place chocolate chips in both envelopes, putting more chocolate chips in one envelope than the other. Hold up the envelopes, tell the child that there are chocolate chips in both of them but one has more than the other. The child has to choose which envelope they want.
After they are done deciding, explain to them that sometimes it is hard to make a decision. King Solomon had to make many difficult decisions and that is why he asked God to help him. He knew he couldn’t do it by himself.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for helping us when we need it. Help me to make good choices and have wisdom like Solomon. Amen!