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:
Proverbs 2:7, 4:5, 7, 9:10, 31:26Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to eleven-year-old Callie and eight-year-old Elias.
