“Now two women who were harlots came to the king, and stood before him.”

Can You Listen?

This verse begins the story that makes King Solomon famous for his wisdom, he was able to grow and rule such a vast empire because of the understanding heart God had given him.

The verses before 1 Kings 3:16 says that King Solomon when asked by God what he would like from Him, asked for wisdom, God said he would give him ‘a wise and understanding heart.’

For any heart to be understanding it has to be a listening heart, you cannot make an informed decision without listening to the facts and to the body language and to God speaking through the Holy Spirit.

Solomon came to the conclusion that if he cut the disputed baby in two the real mother would object and give the baby up. In this situation he had no facts to work with, there were no witnesses and no dna testing in those days to prove who the baby really belonged to.

He may have had an idea from the body language of the two women over who was being the most honest, but ultimately the wisdom to do what he suggested came from listening to God.

When we are confronted with difficult situations at home with our children or in our work lives and we are forced to play the role of the judge, do we have the same wisdom as Solomon?

It is available. The Bible says if you ask you shall receive, like Solomon you can ask for a wise and understanding heart.

Sadly the ability to listen is not common in our urgent society, often if we slowed down and listened to what was really being said we wouldn’t mess up as much as we do at work and home.

I have noticed that the ability to listen actually leads to influence, when people know you are taking them seriously you can draw far more out of them, you then build trust in them and so they are more likely to follow your lead, or give you the info you are needing.

I guess the same is true with God, when He knows we have a real desire to listen to him when we pray and not just rattle off our moans and requests, He is far more likely to share with us deeper things and wisdom that will take us further.

If you want the wisdom of King Solomon then you need to develop the art of listening to ultimately influence God and man.

• This Christmas Season can you take more time to be an active listener?
• Will you stop thinking up your response, and take in all the other person is saying to you?
• Will you look for what they are saying with their facial expressions, hands, tone?
• Can you begin to give extra time to listen to God in quiet time?