Searching for everlasting treasure

Based on the sermon I heard Sunday in church, I've decided to update an entry I originally posted back in 2012. Hope it encourages you to seek for God just like you search for a missing cell phone or car keys.
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The purpose of the book of Proverbs (according to my Life Applications Bible – NRSV) is “to teach people how to be understanding, just , and fair in everything they do, to make the simple-minded wise, to warn young people about some problems they will face, and to help the wise become good leaders. In short, the book of Proverbs teaches people how to apply divine wisdom to daily life and provides moral instruction.”

From the first chapter of Proverbs we read the book's purpose “These are the wise words of Solomon son of David, King of Israel.  They teach wisdom and self-control.”  Wait a minute… wisdom and self control… my eyes went back to those two words.  I knew I had to make some sort of commitment if I wanted to continue reading.  

[side note: I have always heard that if you don’t have a daily Bible reading plan you can always start by reading one Proverb a day.  I challenge anyone who doesn’t have a daily time to read their Bibles to start with Proverbs…  Today is the 4^th – so start in Chapter 4 – by the time July 1^st rolls around you can go back and pick up the chapters you missed.]

Anyway, as I continued to read into Proverbs Chapter 2, I found that Solomon encourages us to listen carefully to wisdom and set our minds on understanding. We need to search for it (wisdom) like silver and hunt for it like hidden treasure (verse 4) then we will understand respect for the Lord and we will find that we know God.

WOW!  I started to think about how I search for the things I misplace… like my cell phone or my car keys!  I am famous for losing both of these items.  Ask anyone who spends any amount of time with me on a regular basis.  If I don’t put them in the same place every time there is an all out search for them until they’re found – this is typically a daily occurrence (I am not kidding). Thinking about my keys and cell phone triggered another thought about how I searched for answers.  You know, the answers I need to be a good spouse, parent, friend, Christian.  Ugh… conviction set in. 

Too often I run to friends for advice before running to God’s word to see what He has to say about my problems. I’m not saying friends aren’t GREAT to talk to and confide in… they are… and at times they should be consulted.  But this passage reminds me that I need to search for wisdom and understanding in God’s word. Only He can give wisdom and understanding.  I just have to search for it… just as intensely as I search for my keys!

Proverbs 2:1-8 (NLT)

My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight,  and ask for understanding.⁴ Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.⁵ Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,  and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

Are you blending in or standing out?

1 Corinthians 3: 1 – 4 (MSG) But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way?

In these verses, Paul urges believers in Corinth to grow up in their faith. Before I dive a little deeper, I want to give you a glimpse of the city. Paul planted this church in 51 AD. The first members of the church were representative of the diversity of the city itself. A major multi-ethnic city, Corinth was the connecting link between Rome and the East. People flocked there to participate in the gambling, legalized temple prostitution, business adventures and all the “fun” that came from being a seaport town.

 

When we come to Christ, we are new creations in Him (2 Cor. 5:17). He washes away the sins of our “old self” and makes us white as snow…clean, pure. We are no longer muddied by the sin He pulled us out of; in fact, we are citizens of Heaven. Our journey with Christ begins. We learn more about Christ through His Word and start to see the world differently; our perspective begins to change. We no longer live as we once did, where we often gave into the desires of our flesh. Now it’s His desires that matter… not ours.

 

As we “grow up” in our faith, we learn His ways and we submit to His authority in our lives. The Bible, not the world, becomes the standard by which we live our lives. As we continue to follow, we grow from being an “infant” in Christ to being a mature believer – depending more on Christ in every circumstance and less on ourselves and the world around us.

 

Paul writes this letter to the Corinthian church and asks them to stop focusing on the “world” around them. Even though they lived in a very “worldly” city, once they became followers of Jesus Christ they were called to be different - to stand out. Different in the way they lived their lives, conducted business, and raised their families. The same is true for us today.

 

Christians are not suppose to “blend-in” to the world around us. Jesus wants us to be a light in the darkness that surrounds us no matter where we may be (in our jobs, with our extended families and friends, or even in our own homes.) Our worldly views change as we grow up in Christ. Instead of seeing the "world" God changes are perspective to see the things of this world through the lens of the Bible.

 

As maturing Christians, we should strive to be different in every area of our life… at home, at work, and especially in how we handle difficult situations. When we have our faith and trust grounded in Christ, we depend on Him to navigate us through churning storms. Christ will change our lives BUT we have to do our part too. We have to take steps in faith knowing that Christ is out in front leading the way.

 

Remember Peter’s walk on water? He didn’t see the waves crashing all around him, He saw Jesus. When his focus was on Christ nothing else mattered. He didn’t see the world around him. (Matthew 14:28 - 29)

 

Are you growing in Christ or are you just “blending in” to the world around you? Growth in Christ is up to us. One of the best places to start is by having a daily quiet time. Get away with just you, your Bible and Christ. You will be glad you did.

Related scripture: Titus 3: 4-6, Romans 8: 1 – 14, Phil 2:12 – 13, 1 John 3: 4 - 10

Change that makes a difference

Proverbs 11:1 (NIV) The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
Proverbs 11:2 (NIV) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

As I read through Proverbs 11, I noticed how Solomon encourages us to live long lives by being honest (v.1), humble (v2), and serving others (v25). In this Proverb, Solomon gives us practical advice to ensure our lives align with the truth of God’s word if we would but heed it. So now, as I sit here, I have to give myself a little self assessment to see how I’m doing and encourage you to do the same.

Am I being 100% honest in the way I conducted myself at work? Am I giving a full 8 hours for a full 8 hours pay? I have really started working on this recently. Have I been taking company time to do personal stuff? You may be saying to yourself, “It doesn’t matter that I use company time to do personal business, the action is good.” While the action may be good, it is still dishonest in the fact that company time was being used.

Reading through the rest of the Proverb, verse 25 also jumped out at me.  “Whoever gives to others will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped.”

Every time I see a verse on giving or service, my mind goes to Jesus in the upper room washing the disciples’ feet. He gave so much – he served all of his disciples – even the one who would betray him. So what does that say to me? I must follow the example set by Jesus Christ. I must serve sacrificially – but not to “get rich” as the world would see those words – but to “get rich” by God’s standards – that is to inherit the treasures that are stored up in heaven. WOW! What will that be like I wonder? I can even fathom how it would look. What are you imagining in your mind?

So, are you changing to become more like Christ in all you do? May I challenge you today to reflect on the words you say; the way you conduct yourself at work; and the way you serve others.

Related scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:9, Philippians 2:12 – 13,

2 Corinthians 9:8