Proverbs 2:1-5

I recently read a section of Scripture in the midst of an article written by someone else. As much as I enjoyed the article, I loved the Scripture I found contained in it. I’ve read this particular section of Scripture before but as I read it this time I found myself truly amazed at it. I simply enjoyed reading it for the pleasure it gave and the truth it contained. Of course all of Scripture is truth. But this section just stuck out to me.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2: 1-5

As I read that set of verses I think of how our society seeks after knowledge of the world to the point that preschoolers are asked what they want to be and school aged children are expected to be thinking of college. Our society has gotten to the point where we value worldly knowledge over the innocence and simplicity of childhood. Our society expects children to know what most adults still haven’t figured out. How many career people change careers? How many of them go from one career to another? And yet they expect preschoolers to know what they want to be and older children to have their colleges picked out.

And for what?

They say there are large numbers of college educated people that are unemployed. And our society pushes college as if it’s the cure all answer to the world’s problems.

But oh, the joy and simplicity in Proverbs 2:1-5.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom,

This isn’t worldly wisdom but wisdom of the Lord. We can see that by the fact that just prior to speaking of wisdom this verse speaks of ‘my commandments.’ It is the Lord’s commandments that are to be hidden and His wisdom the ear it to be inclined to.

…and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge…

Oh the knowledge we are told to seek. How much greater value does the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord have than that of the world? Scripture tells us…

The world and its desires pass away… 1 John 2:17 NIV

Worldly knowledge will pass away. It is only that of an eternal nature that will last. Worldly wisdom and knowledge may gain us status in this world but it does nothing to gain us that which is most important…salvation.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36 ESV

And Scripture even tells us just what worldly wisdom is…

Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV

But as with so many other things our society tries to teach us exactly the opposite of what Scripture teaches. Scripture tells us to seek after Christ and the wisdom and understanding of Him. Paul sets the perfect example when he says…I have decided to know nothing but Christ.

Oh the amazing wonders in knowing nothing but Christ. If we could only cast off everything else we have ever learned and know nothing but Christ. What if all our education had come only from Scripture? If we truly, honestly, earnestly, search the Scriptures we can see so much of what is and has happened in the world and gain true understanding. We can see the world through the eyes of knowing only Christ and, crazy as the world is, confusing as it is, it makes so much more sense.

and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Treasure seekers have abounded through much of time. They long for maps that will lead them to long lost treasure. They gave up homes, jobs, even wives and children to search for gold. They, even now, look to ways to gain money in quick and easy ways. Desiring treasure and doing whatever it takes to get that treasure.

How hard a treasure seeker is willing to work to find a hidden treasure. They will go to great lengths, work long hours, expend great time, energy and resources to gain the treasure they seek. They will give up all they have for the longed for treasure.

But the treasure…the best treasure…is Christ. And the closest we can come to attaining Christ is to strive to know Him better through the Scriptures.

My husband recently told me that he enjoys the ‘simplicity of Christ’…speaking of the Bible…over the most well written commentary. He prefers the knowledge of Christ, the wisdom of the Bible, the understanding of the Scriptures to any man’s understandings of those Scriptures.

…then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

It is in the Simplicity of Christ. In His Word that we find the understanding, the fear, the knowledge of God. And that knowledge, that wisdom, that understanding is the only ‘education’ that has any value. All other is ‘meaningless’ and of an earthly nature that will pass away and gain us nothing but the loss of our souls. Oh, but the treasure that lies within the Word of God, the knowledge and understanding that leads to eternity and Christ.