Key scripture -“When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.” (1 Kings 10:1 NIV).

When you think of the Queen of Sheba, do you picture her as being Delilah, Nefertiti and Cleopatra all rolled into one — an exotic beauty from a foreign land with wealth, power and appeal?

If so, then it’s time to meet the real Queen of Sheba and leave the Hollywood version behind.

A leader of uncommon boldness and vision, this real-life queen traveled from the ends of the earth to seek wisdom, and she was drawn to King Solomon’s doorstep because of his bond with the One True God, who is wisdom Himself.

The Queen of Sheba journeyed for two months across an unforgiving desert on a camel. Compare that to the access that we have to God’s wisdom, because all that we have to do is reach for our Bibles, or pick up our smart phones and pull up a Bible app, and God’s wisdom is ours for the taking.

Maybe that’s the problem. His Word is so convenient to us that it is conveniently forgotten. We find ourselves saying, “I’ll read it later. I’ll start tomorrow. I am to tired. I am to busy.”

Or we wait until a crisis occurs and we’re panicking because we are desperate for answers, but we don’t know where to find them in the Bible because we never read and meditate on it. So we aimlessly flip from one chapter of the Bible to another, looking for a verse that will magically solve everything.

The Queen of Sheba took a different route. As we see in our key verse, she put her royal life on hold and made seeking wisdom her number-one priority. Here’s what she teaches us about wisdom by her good example:

1. Wisdom requires time. We say, “Time is money,” but the truth is, time is worth more than money. It can’t be bought, sold or bargained with. Each minute ticks by, never to be seen again. If we can spend 10 minutes each morning in a hot shower, we can spend at least 10 minutes being cleansed by His Word. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV).

2. Wisdom requires sacrifice. Try turning off your television and start reading the Bible. You are probably thinking, “Do what?!” It may be hard at first, but as the months go by, you will forget about what you are missing and rejoice in what you are learning. “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7, NIV). In case you’re wondering, when the television returns, it will not have the same appeal, and that is absolutely God’s plan!

3. Wisdom requires humility. We hate admitting we don’t have all the answers, yet that’s what seeking wisdom is all about. It’s saying, “Lord, I don’t have a clue about what I should do, but You do. Please show me what to do.” Admitting, “I don’t know, but I know the One who does,” only then will God’s wisdom be revealed for what it is: His and His alone. “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”(Proverbs 11:2, NIV).

As the Queen of Sheba discovered, information is interesting and facts are fascinating, but wisdom is world-changing. Wisdom is the resource we bring to the workplace, the encouragement we offer to our friends, the gift we give to the body of Christ, the legacy we leave for our children. “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28, NIV)

No matter how full your schedule is, adding just one more line to your to-do list can make all the difference in your life and the lives of the people around you: So start today by opening God’s Word and I guarantee that you will find all the wisdom that you need.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, help me to never take Your Word or the wisdom in it, for granted. Father, I receive Your Word, I treasure up Your commandments, I make my ears attentive to wisdom and I incline my heart to understanding. I call out for insight and understanding, and I seek it like silver and search for it as I would search for hidden treasures. Help me to understand the fear of the Lord, how to revere and obey You, and to find and experience the knowledge of God. You Lord, give wisdom; from Your mouth comes knowledge and understanding; You store up sound wisdom for the upright; You are a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of Your saints. I want wisdom so that I understand righteousness, justice, equity, and every good path. Let Your wisdom come into my heart, and knowledge be pleasant to my soul; let discretion watch over me, and understanding guard me. (Proverbs 2:1-11). James told us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5). Therefore I ask that You give me a passion for learning Your Word and a thirst for Your Truth. Fill me with the courage to ask hard questions and seek wise answers from You and You alone. Your Word and only Your Word is the absolute truth!! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.