“And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in” (I Kings 3:7).

When Solomon became King of Israel and prayed this prayer, he was still in his teens. His prayer was for wisdom, and, with the many external enemies of Israel and the complex internal intrigues surrounding him in Jerusalem, he surely needed divine wisdom. God was pleased with this request, and granted it in abundance. This is a great example for teen-age believers today, who, all too often, are confident they already are smarter than their parents and teachers, while seeming to care more about pleasure and possessions, or even religious emotionalism than true wisdom.

God’s word has much to say to such young people: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Each of us has been created for a divine purpose, and the more years devoted to that purpose, the more fully it can be accomplished.

Note also Paul’s counsel to young Timothy: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” “Flee also youthful lusts.” “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, . . . from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 4:12; II Timothy 2:22; 3:14,15).

With all the great wisdom God gave him in his youth, Solomon accomplished great things for God, even writing three books of the Bible. Sadly, he was wiser in youth than in old age, whereas many who exhibit great foolishness in their younger years seem to become wiser as they grow older. How much better, however, to seek and apply God’s true wisdom all our lives! HMM