Anything at All

I think the fairy tale with which I identify most is that of Cinderella. Her rise from humble beginnings to a place beyond her greatest dreams has always captivated my imagination. Sometimes I feel like Cinderella—I don’t live in a loveless, oppressive environment like she did, but I, like her, feel that the future contains things much grander, much wider in scope, than what I currently behold. The exchange of her charcoal-stained flats for glass slippers (wait a minute—“slippers”? How about “gorgeous high-heels!”) makes me think of where I come from and where I’m going, and then I get antsy to trade in my car for a horse-drawn pumpkin-turned-carriage—or at least for a plane ticket to Moldova.

But what’s most exciting to me is that I stand on the brink of adventure—it’s almost here but has not grasped me yet, like Cinderella before the fairy godmother’s appearance. At this point, my mind races to consider myriad possibilities about what life will be like, who I will encounter, and what I will do. Sometimes preparing is nearly as exciting as beginning the journey itself! 

I think of Cinderella’s wish to go to the ball. And in these moments of preparation, I wish, too. What do I wish for? I wish for deep relationships with the people among whom I will live and work, teaching skills that impute lasting knowledge to my students, and the privilege of participation in changing hopeless, light-less lives with the power of Christ. I could also wish for the temporary shrinking of most of my possessions so that I can fit an uncannily large amount of objects into two 50-pound suitcases.

My wishes range from the deep to the ditsy, but if I had one wish before going to Moldova, anything at all, what would it be? Or rather, since my desires don’t need to be thrown at the feet of a magical being who may work my will at whim but since they instead can be presented “with confidence to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16) of the living God, what would my request be, if I could only make one, before going to Moldova?

There really is no reason why I could or can only make one request of the Lord before leaving for Moldova, but the other day as I thought of all the things I desire to happen regarding my Moldova experience, I felt the Lord ask me that question: If you had one request, what would it be? 

My mind instantly turned to King Solomon. As a newly-minted king, Solomon started out in the right direction. To begin his reign, he assembled the nation and led the people in seeking the Lord. God came to him at the start of his rule and made an unusual request. In essence, “What do you want? Ask anything, and I’ll give it to you.” The answer? “Wisdom. I want wisdom.” Now, I’ll be honest: when I was little, the first time I heard this story, I grew suddenly disappointed. God asks Solomon to ask for anything in the world, and he asks for something intangible? The fact that Solomon didn’t ask for literal things such as, well, riches, wealth, or honor (2 Chron. 1:12) surprised my young mind. And bored me. I figured that the Bible lesson to be gleaned from such a story was, “Don’t be selfish. God doesn’t like it when you’re selfish. And when you don’t ask for things for yourself, He’ll give them to you anyway.” Fair enough. But as I grew, both physically and in my understanding of what Solomon really asked for, my perspective changed. 

Over time, I’ve realized that Solomon did not waste his words asking for the temporary. He could’ve enjoyed his wealth, riches, and honor only while he lived. And he would have gained those at the expense of his subjects, for whom such pleasures weren’t requested. He could’ve asked for plenty of things—and maybe, if there were a few fleeting seconds before he responded to God, he thought about what he’d like. But somewhere in those seconds, maybe he realized, Wait. How can I know that these things are right for me? How can I know that I’m making the best choices? Maybe he realized that God was asking him a question that revealed Solomon’s motivations. And even in his request, Solomon demonstrated the quality for which he asked in increasing measure. “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead these people” (2 Chron. 1:10). The truth is, if we ever found a magic genie—or if God ever asked us such an unconventional question—we could receive literally anything and everything we wanted; but how would we know what to ask for unless we had some divine foresight, some guidance stemming from a perception vastly superior to our own? How can we, mere humans, know how to choose what’s best?  

The day I pondered this unique question, I opened a Bible that has daily readings partitioned in such a way as to enable people to read the Bible in a year. And when I began to read that day, the entry contained these words: “That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!’” (2 Chron. 1:7). My first reaction was to laugh out loud at the uncanny timeliness of this reading. My second reaction was to dig deeper into this story. The following is what I gleaned.

I notice that before answering directly, Solomon recounted God’s history of faithfulness to his family. “Solomon said to God, ‘You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth’” (2 Chron. 1:9). Solomon took time to remember who he was in relation to God and who his family was in relation to the promises of God. He both honored God and remembered his place in God’s plan. Recalling the nature of the One who does the asking can put our hearts in the proper posture for response.

“Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chron. 1:10) In fifteen different translations of the Bible, the words wisdom and knowledge stay the same in this verse. Solomon’s request has remained quite clear through the ages. For some reason, I grew up missing the “knowledge” part; I only remember reading that Solomon asked for wisdom. The word for wisdom evokes skill and wit, while the word for knowledge evokes thought, intelligence, and consciousness. Although the two terms are similar, requested together they cover a broader intellectual range than does simply asking for one or the other. 

And it is crucial to notice that Solomon did not limit his request to something that would benefit only himself or a select few. He asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, not just so he’d be smart and safe and live a long time. He basically said, “God, help me do what you’ve called me to do.” It was a selfless plea, concerned for both the general welfare and the honor of God. Solomon strove for excellence; he didn’t just ask for what he thought would be good for his nation; he asked God for what He knew would be best for the people. 

Sometimes we pray for effects but not causes. We pray for weight loss but not for self-discipline. We pray for a good grade but not for better study habits. We pray for the salvation of loved ones but not for the sharpening of our evangelizing abilities. Solomon didn’t launch out into listing the effects of a good reign; he asked for that which would cause it. Perhaps he knew that such desired results would follow only if he began in the right place—in the grasp of wisdom.

The 1 Kings account of this story explains that “[t]he Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this” (3:10).  We know this request was a good one because God granted it—and granted much more: “God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have’” (2 Chron. 1:11-12). God recognized the wisdom, selflessness, and self-discipline Solomon exerted by not asking for temporary benefits for himself. I don’t believe Solomon didn’t want wealth, possessions, and honor; I believe he just wanted the wisdom of God more. Solomon knew what to value. 

The way the story plays out reminds me of Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In a way, this verse and the 2 Chronicles passage are connected because both, in essence, say, “Want the things of God! Be about His business and let Him fill you! Then He’ll take care of your more-temporary concerns. And all you need, you’ll have.”

And that day as I read Solomon's request, I prayed it aloud. I asked God for His wisdom and knowledge. As much as I want things to go well, I want His guidance even more. So if I had one request before going to Moldova, I would pull a Solomon: Wisdom and knowledge, please. And more wisdom and knowledge.

If you could ask for anything, anything at all, what would it be? Solomon’s request for divine aid was profound. May it ever be mine, and may it ever be yours. God, give me wisdom and knowledge for life.