A Hearing Heart

King Solomon was humble in the beginning and wanted to please God. He asked God for wisdom so that he could rule justly.

But we need to look at the text more closely. What is the essence of this wisdom that Solomon received from God?

So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people? 1 Kings 3:9 AMP

First, we need to listen to our own hearts when we feel pangs of conscience. We all experience these conflicts. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve ignored their conscience.

But it is not enough just to obey our conscience. Our conscience can be shaped by our upbringing, our culture and our religion.

Our conscience can be too liberal or too strict.

There are Christians who consider sex before marriage normal. I cannot understand why they do not feel painful remorse.

On the other hand, there are women who have had a very strict religious upbringing. They have learned to regard sexual feelings as sinful. When they are engaged and kiss their fiancé, they feel guilty. Even after they are married, they can’t enjoy sex.
 
If you have a listening heart, your heart will be open to God's word. You will learn from the Bible that sex before marriage is forbidden.

You will also learn that sex with your mate should be a great joy.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; Song of Solomon 1:2 ESV

There are laws in the Bible that are meant to sharpen our conscience. But there are also teachings that are meant to free us from a legalistic conscience.

Only through divine wisdom will your conscience be cleansed and sanctified but also freed from legalism.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV