Wisdom from a Prostitute

Many people ponder whether their situation could change if they knew what they know now at that time. In other words, would I be where I am today if I knew what I know now?

In life, wisdom refers to the ability to navigate challenges successfully. It is essential to recognize that wisdom goes beyond book knowledge. Wisdom involves knowing the right thing to do at the right time to reveal what is needed to bring justice. Young King Solomon illustrates this wisdom as he dealt with a custody case between two prostitutes. I Kings 3:16-28 explains a dilemma over the custody of a baby boy when each of them had a son, but one had died. After Solomon gathered the facts (the knowledge), he had to understand the two women to resolve this dilemma. Remember, the achievement of wisdom occurs after knowledge and understanding have been acquired. So, King Solomon restates the dilemma in vs. 23. What are we to do? This woman says, The living son is mine and the dead one is yours, and this woman says, No, the dead one’s yours and the living one’s mine. To understand the women entirely, King Solomon asked for a sword and commanded to cut the live child in halves so each could share the child. Yet, each woman’s response provides the nature of their reasonings.

Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

I Kings 3:26

Because of our humanity, we tend to respond to situations from the heart. As a result of the differing responses of these mothers, King Solomon was able to give custody to the rightful mother. The true mother was willing to give up her son compared to the false mother, who only wanted her rival to experience the same feelings when her child died. Likewise, how do we respond to challenging situations that cause unbearable pain? Do we agonize over the loss to the point of wishing others feel like us, or do we succumb to the despair by releasing it like a true mother?

Competing in sports, for example, can result in agony if one fails to win. Since there is only one winner, the losers' responses will teach one how to cope with life. In the fictitious movie Talladega Nights, the lead character, Ricky Bobby, quotes, If you ain’t first, you’re last. Like the false mother who overlooks the consequences of her actions to satisfy her own needs, this quote illustrates Ricky Bobby's character of winning regardless of the cost because of his lack of humility. A motivation to win lacks Godly wisdom because it does not consider the end state. In other words, if I knew what I know now, I would have a different outcome regarding my present situation. Nevertheless, God knows the outcome, so I must rely on God's wisdom when I am faced with a dilemma. The Apostle James states it similarly in his writing: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5). Considering this, if you are contemplating a situation, ask God for wisdom, a combination of knowledge and understanding toward clarity about how to proceed. The wisdom from above is the navigation tool for every life situation.

The wisdom from above is the navigation tool for every life situation.

by Mickey Baker