The other day my department celebrated one of the colleagues’ birthday. Before blowing out the candle she said of her three wishes—wishing herself and others good health, as well as great success in our international conference. What were your birthday wishes or New Year resolutions you made? Why did you need the wishes? Were they fulfilled and how were they fulfilled?

As Solomon became king of Israel, one night God appeared to him in a dream, telling him what he would like to have from him. Solomon didn’t reply to God, “Oh! Let me think about it. Well, I want good heath, great riches, outstanding reputation or long life.” Rather he thanked God first off for showing faithful love to his father David and making him king of his people. He asked God to give him the wisdom and knowledge to lead his people properly (2 Chronicles 1:10). God was pleased with Solomon’s request because he didn’t ask for money, wealth, fame, long life and the doom of his enemies. So God granted Solomon his request—knowledge and wisdom with the rest mentioned above as a bonus. But how did Solomon receive both of them from God? He said in the books of Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (1:7), and “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10). A person will receive knowledge and wisdom as he or she begins to respect and honor God.

Like Solomon he showed his thanksgiving to God for his family and asked God for wisdom to govern his people. As followers of Christ, we should extend our gratitude to God for his saving grace to become a member of his family. If God granted me three wishes, I would wish for the thirst for the knowledge of Him, for the hunger for the love of Jesus Christ, and for the power of the Holy Spirit to witness his kingdom.

How about you? What would you wish for if God granted you three wishes?