Peanuts and Wisdom

And Solomon said , “And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" 1 Kings 3: 7,9

George Washington Carver was born in 1865, and died in 1943 at the age of 78. A former slave, during his life he became inventor, scientist, businessperson, service industry employee, agriculturist, medical worker, artist, author, lecturer, domestic, reformer, and performing artist.

As a member of the faculty of Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, he worked with agricultural products and developed industrial applications from farm products. His research developed 325 products from peanuts, 108 applications for sweet potatoes, and 75 products derived from peanuts. He also developed over 500 dyes and pigments from 28 different plants, and was responsible for the invention in 1927 of a process for producing paints and stains from soybeans, from which three separate patents were issued.

“God’s little workshop” was the name George Washington Carver gave his laboratory. It was there that the famous scientist asked in prayer to discover the uses of what was then a lowly, unesteemed crop—peanuts.

“Dear Mr. Creator,” the humble man began, “please tell me what the universe was made for.”

“Ask for something more in keeping with that little mind of yours,” God answered.

So Carver tried again. “Dear Mr. Creator, what was man made for?”

Again the Lord replied, “Little man, you ask too much. Cut down the extent of your request and improve the intent.”

So the scientist tried once more. “Then, Mr. Creator, will you tell me why the peanut was made?”

“That’s better,” the Lord said, and from that day on Carver began to discover more than 300 uses for the lowly peanut!

What do George Washington Carver and King Solomon have in common? Both asked for a hearing heart. In 1 Kings 3:6-9, Solomon recognized that God’s kindness to David was because of his father’s faithfulness to God, which manifested itself in righteous actions and upright attitudes of heart. Also, he was concerned that he would be able to function effectively as the representative of God. His responsibility as the leader and judge of God’s people weighed heavily on him.

So he requested a “hearing heart,” tuned to the voice of God, so he could lead Israel as God desired. He acknowledged his dependence on God by referring to himself as God’s servant (1 Kings 3:7-8). As a result, God granted his request and gave him great wisdom.

Two men asked for a hearing heart. God gave one the privilege of discovering the value of a peanut, and to the other he gave immeasurable wisdom.

I wonder what God will give us if we ask for a hearing heart today. If you need wisdom, ask him, and he will gladly give it to you.

Peace,
Pastor Carrie Scheller