December 31 - A Discerning Difference.

Proverbs 18:16
“A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”
 
Presents have a way of getting people’s attention, even that of great importance. God has given us the Greatest Gift that has ever been given, and yet so often men refuse and reject Him.
 
Proverbs 18:17
“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.”
 
The first to tell a story seems to be telling the truth, when only their side has been told. We must remember that there are always two sides to every story, and we must uses our wisdom to discern which story must be true.
 
Solomon showed the Truth of this when two women were brought before him, each of them claiming to be the mother of a child. Since the child could have only one mother, one of them was clearly lying through both stories seems just. Solomon used his God-given Wisdom to bring the Truth to light.
 
1 Kings 3:24-25
“And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”
 
What boldness and wisdom he possessed to think of such a radical solution. Clearly the true mother of the child would do anything to protect the life of her child, and Solomon knew this to be true.
 
1 Kings 3:26-28
“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. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.”
 
The Wisdom which Solomon displayed made a difference not only in this situation with the mother and her child, but all of Israel heard of his judgment and feared the king because they realized he had the Wisdom of God.
 
What if those around us saw the Wisdom of God in us?
What a difference we could make if only we would live by the God-given Wisdom that is within us!
 
 
Bible Reading:
Malachi  |  1 John 5  |  Proverbs 31