Wisdom is a treasure - Seek it like silver

It is necessary for us to learn God's wisdom in order to live skillfully in every area of our lives. Today's devotion talks about our need to diligently seek and prayerfully ask for that wisdom. Although we will only be discussing Proverbs 2:1-6,  I recommend that you read the whole chapter.

 ¹My son, if you will receive my words
         And treasure my commandments within you, 
    ²Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
         Incline your heart to understanding; 
    ³For if you cry for discernment,
         Lift your voice for understanding; 
    ⁴If you seek her as silver
         And search for her as for hidden treasures; 
    ⁵Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
         And discover the knowledge of God. 
    ⁶For the LORD gives wisdom;
         From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.


In verse 1 the father addresses a couple of things. First, are you willing to receive God's Words?  Are you willing to both listen and act on what you are taught? In contrast Proverbs tells us the fool despises God's wisdom. The fool is neither willing to listen to God's wisdom nor to act on it.


Second, do you value God's teachings just like a treasure? Are you willing to frequently get into the Bible and store up His teachings within you? Will you meditate on those valuable teachings? Will those teachings be so valuable to you that they will guide your decisions? 


In verse 2 we see that obtaining both wisdom and understanding requires a decision on your part. You need to "Make your ear attentive to wisdom," and you need to  "Incline you heart to understanding."   Acquiring wisdom requires you to set your desire for it.

In verse 3 we see that obtaining wisdom requires dependence on God. We need to recognize that God is our teacher. We must pray and ask Him to give us wisdom. David recognized his dependence on God to teach him. Look at how he asked God to teach him in Psalm 119:18

¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold
         Wonderful things from Your law.

In verse 4 we see that in addition to prayer we need to make diligent effort. Seeking wisdom requires the same determined effort that is made by a person seeking silver or a hidden treasure. Those seeking these material treasures might get tired along the way but they don't stop seeking until they find their desire. In the same way we need to persevere in seeking for God's wisdom.

In verses  5-6 we find that our dependence and diligent effort will not be in vain. We will be taught by His hand and find valuable spiritual treasures.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
NASB® Audio Bible in a Year blog

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