God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are given to you. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12a, emphasis added)

“That you may.” It’s a short but important phrase. It’s the motive behind what we request, and our motive matters to God.

If we ask for the wrong reasons, we don’t truly need what we request. Or if we truly need what we request but have the wrong motives, the timing might be wrong for us to receive it. And sometimes, despite our motives, we still receive our requests. However, we’re unable to use what we receive as well as we would if our motives were pure and well-intended.

Even when our motives are good, we might not receive what we request. Not everyone has the same capability to use something God gives, such as wisdom and knowledge. God knows to what measure we should receive it. He also knows how we will use or abuse the gifts He gives us.

Regardless of what we receive and how that compares to others, we need to encourage each other as we seek God and spur one another forward in following Him well even though that process and timing looks different for many. Yet with pure motives, it always leads to a closer relationship with God, even when it’s not exactly what we expect.