Wisdom Rush
By Elin Henderson
“Incline your ear to
wisdom and apply your heart to understanding… if you seek her as silver and
search for her as for hidden treasures Then you will understand the fear of the
LORD and find the knowledge of God, for the LORD gives wisdom.”
Proverbs
2:2, 4-6 (NKJV)
I’m
no history buff, but I do know that the Gold Rush of ’49 is responsible for the
massive people movement that populated the western coast! When word first came
out that “there’s gold in them thar hills!” people flocked by the score, mad
with gold fever, willing to lose everything to strike it rich!! Many went, but
only a few were successful in their search. Why is this? Well, I’ve never dug
for gold, but from the stories I’ve read, it was no easy task. It took
determination, courage, strength and persistence. The good stuff wasn’t on the
surface, but way down beneath and nothing short of blood, sweat and tears,
unearthed it. Everyone longed for it, but few found it.
How
many times in a day do we find ourselves crying out, “God, give me wisdom!” If
only we had a Fort Knox of wisdom, we could access any old time! But it’s not
that way. Wisdom is available, but we have to be willing to dig for it!! It’s
valuable, not to be squandered, but to be cherished and utilized to its
fullest.
Job
found this to be true in his search for sense and wisdom in the midst of trial.
The first 11 verses of Job
28 give us a lovely word picture of
a mine and the intense work that goes into finding treasure in its depths. Then
Job says, “But where can wisdom be found and where is understanding? Man does
not know its value…” We search blindly for it, desperate to find it, but often
unsure of where to start. Before we lose heart, he adds, “God understands its way
and He knows its place.” He’s got the map of the mines! Then, in the final
verse (28), God speaks directly to man and reveals that map. “Behold the fear
of the Lord, that is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding.” It’s
like He’s saying, “Start here! Keep digging in this vein and you will find
it!!”
Are
we willing to dig, in order to find the wisdom we desperately need? It’s often
in the midst of the struggle that we come upon the rich nuggets we’re longing
for. So, pick up your map, start where He says to start and keep
digging! He has a whole cache waiting for you. Are you ready for
a Wisdom Rush?
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Spend
some time in Proverbs noting wisdom verses.
2.
How much time do you devote daily to wisdom fever?
FURTHER
READING:
Oakwood’s
missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as
church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to thirteen-year-old Callie
and ten-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.
