OneYearBibleOnline Discussion

Disney, Solomon and Stories

Alan Kay, a vice president at Walt Disney, asked the company board:

“Why was Solomon recognized as the wisest man in the world?"

"Because he knew more stories (proverbs) than anyone else. Scratch the surface in a typical boardroom and we’re all just cavemen with briefcases, hungry for a wise person to tell us stories.

Stories are evocative systems of patterns. They provide a map charting the way to the future. They include travel hints in the form of viewpoints and links to archetypal story structures and themes that inspire and motivate people.

Stories are marvelous means of summarizing experiences, of capturing an event and the surrounding context that seems essential. Stories are important cognitive events, for they encapsulate, into one compact package, information, knowledge, context, and emotion.” ~Alan Kay

Alan was quite correct about the value of the stories that are provided by Solomon and other authors in the Bible. They are there to help us navigate our lives according to God’s compass, His Word. These stories are easily transmitted, shared, remembered and understood by the many different cultures and various levels of education in the world.

Let’s briefly read the real story of how Solomon became the wisest man of all time:

1 Kings 3:4-12 (New International Version)
4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 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?"

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

What a wise choice King Solomon made by asking God for wisdom. In response to his request to better serve God, he is given both wisdom and riches by God. Which gift do you think he prized more? Well he wrote this proverb to tell us:

Proverbs 4:7 (New International Version)
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.


Wisdom has been Humankinds pursuit since the beginning.

Genesis 3:6 (New International Version)
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

1 Kings 4:34 (New International Version)
34 Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

The Cost of Wisdom

Americans spend millions of dollars and countless hours each year attending personal improvement seminars and reading self-help books pursuing wisdom. They are looking for the secrets of a meaningful and successful life. Why is it that with all of this activity, these people are still unhappy with themselves and their lives? Are they looking for wisdom in the right places?

King Solomon was correct when he declared 4000 years ago, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” We are quite fortunate that God inspired Solomon to record this wisdom for us within the book of proverbs. Wisdom is described as a She, similar to a desirable woman.

Proverbs 3:13-18 (New International Version)
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Wisdom, Fear and Foolishness

Many of the most successful men and women of the past and present ascribe their success to the wisdom they put into action that they found in the Bible. And they attained this wisdom with methodical daily reading of the Bible. The Bible is truly the greatest success manual on the earth! The Bible remains the earth’s #1 best seller . . . for a reason!

What you hear and keep hearing determines what you believe. What you believe dictates how you think. Your thoughts always decide your present feelings. Your feelings are the springboard for your every action. So where do we start on this quest for wisdom? We find that answered by the Psalmist:

Psalm 111:10 (New International Version)
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

]But it’s important to seek only God’s wisdom and not of the world:

1 Corinthians 3:19 (New International Version)
19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"

In fact, we are promised that wisdom can be obtained directly from God, if we only ask:

James 1:5 (New International Version)
5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Where Can Wisdom Be Found?

So where can you find it? Where can you find the blessing of wisdom? It’s found in God’s Word. By reading and studying the Bible:

Psalm 1:2-3 (New International Version)
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Wisdom Will Change Your Life

By pursuing God’s wisdom, you will find meaning for your life. It will free you from the emptiness of a life spent searching for wealth, power or status. You can rise above the pettiness and disappointments of everyday life. By applying this wisdom and walking by faith; you can find your place in the universe and your reason for being. And this wisdom is in His Word, the Bible.

Job 28:20-28 (New International Version)
20 "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.

22 Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'

23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,

24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,

26 when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,

27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.

28 And he said to man, The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."