True Wisdom Is Recognizing God

Yael Eckstein  |  March 30, 2023

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? — Ecclesiastes 2:24–25

In Judaism, wisdom is something that should be sought, cultivated, and taught — no matter what age we are. Enjoy this collection of inspirational thoughts and insights about this godly pursuit.

If God came to you and offered you any worldly gift, what would you ask of Him? For some people, financial security is at the top of the list. For others it may be health, long life, or safety from harm.

This may seem like a silly question to consider, but if you really think about it, it’s not. What we would answer really speaks to our deepest needs and insecurities. It’s really a question about our priorities.

After Solomon became king, God appeared to him and made him just that offer: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). So what did King Solomon ask for? Solomon humbly responded that he wanted nothing more than the ability to lead the nation of Israel.

To that end, Solomon asked God to grant him wisdom. We read, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

True Wisdom Is Recognizing God

Later, Solomon used his great wisdom to write the biblical books of Song of Songs, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Solomon truly became one of the greatest sources of wisdom for all of us.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote: “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”

Was Solomon telling us to just enjoy this world and not to worry about anything else? Read these verses again. “This too, I see, is from the hand of God.” Solomon was teaching us that true wisdom is found once we recognize that everything is from God; our enjoyment of God’s Creation becomes an experience of Him.

Anyone can experience God when sitting in a church or synagogue during worship or visiting the biblical sites in the land of Israel. Solomon, the wisest of all men, taught us that true wisdom is recognizing God in everything — including food, drink, and even the satisfaction we feel in our day-to-day work.

With this perspective, every moment of our lives becomes a moment of connection with God. Everything we do is in service to Him. Now that’s wisdom!

Your Turn:

Try starting your day with a prayer to God. Ask Him for true wisdom to see Him in everything you enjoy and do.