The Wise Ask for Help

The first thing Solomon did with his wisdom was ask for help.

After God promised to make Solomon the wisest king in Israel’s history (2 Chronicles 1:11-12), we might expect him to knock out the temple project on his own.

But the young king took the opposite approach.

He started off by enlisting 156,300 men and a neighboring king.

“Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself. And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them. And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: ‘As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me.’” (2 Chronicles 2:1-3)

The king of Tyre didn’t take Solomon’s request as a sign of weakness. He saw it as a sign of wisdom:

“Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself. Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi …” (2 Chronicles 2:12-13)

Hiram was confident Solomon was going to finish the temple precisely because he wasn’t trying to do it alone. Divine discretion helped Solomon see his limitations and lean on the multitudes for help.

Solomon had the purpose in mind. But he was quick to admit that he didn’t have the power to carry it out.

He had the vision for the temple. But he was well aware that only a craftsman could make it a reality.

The wiser we grow, the quicker we ask for help.

Whenever we refuse to accept our limitations, we deprive ourselves of “Huram-abi”—the people God has appointed to rise to the occasion.

Where are you foolishly trying to do it all on your own?

You have the idea, but you don’t need all of the skill to do it.

You have the call, but you don’t have to carry it all on your shoulders.

You have the responsibility, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Christ’s anointed ones never do it all. The most effective servants know their part and bring good works to fruition with the body’s help (1 Corinthians 12:12, 14).