Articles
A Worthy Pursuit
Before you get any further into this article, take a few minutes and read Job 28, which will be the basis for the topic under discussion.
In that chapter, we find Job in the midst of a reply to his so-called friends and their accusations he had done something worthy of God’s punishment, and in his defense to them. Job had earlier argued that his integrity was untarnished (Job 27:5, 6), and would later defend his righteousness (Job 31), but here, he speaks of something more valuable than any of earth’s natural treasures such as gold and silver and the precious stones: Wisdom.
Job notes that man, in his search for these natural precious metals and stones, will essentially stop at nothing to find them. He notes that man, in his search for iron and copper, “puts an end to darkness, and searches every recess for ore in the darkness and the shadow of death” (Job 28:3). In his search for the more precious ores and stones, man “overturns the mountains at the roots. He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. He dams up the streams from trickling; what is hidden he brings forth to light” (Job 28:9, 10). If we know anything at all about the history of man and precious metals and stones, we would have to wholeheartedly agree with Job’s description of the lengths to which men will go to find these ores and stones — places where “no bird knows, nor has the falcon’s eye seen it. The proud lions have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it” (Job 28:7, 8). Again, man will essentially stop at nothing in his search for these valuable ores and stones. Nothing has really changed since the time of Job, except maybe the technology used in the search!
But Job then asks: “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living” (Job 28:12, 13). He admonishes the hearers, “It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price” (Job 28:15), “Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold” (Job 28:17), and concludes, “the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold” (Job 28:18, 19). If what Job speaks is true, then we are considering something that would be the most valuable possession of all, yet he asks again, “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding” (Job 28:20). We need to know the answer!
But Job does not leave us waiting, or without an answer; he tells us plainly, “God understands its way, and He knows its place” (Job 28:23), and ends with this simple, but profound declaration: “He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:27, 28). Job realized what others have noted — that wisdom is more valuable than any earthly treasure, and that wisdom begins with the fear of God!
The wise writer similarly tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7), and, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). He would later tell his son to search for wisdom and understanding as if seeking the hidden treasures, noting, “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; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:4-6). He would later exhort his son strongly, saying, “Get wisdom! Get understanding!…Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Prov. 4:5, 7).
Man, though, is often too busy in the search for the material treasures to seek the most valuable of all — wisdom. And for many others who do seek wisdom, they seek it from the wrong source; they seek the wisdom that comes from man, rather than the wisdom that comes from God. James reminds us, though, of the value of the right kind of wisdom, asking, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (Jas. 3:13-17).
The truth is, while men may certainly attain to great human wisdom, it pales in comparison to the wisdom from above and its results are far less desirable, for human wisdom inevitably leads to terrible consequences, and for the simple reason it is based in human reasoning and driven by human passions and desires. We should not be surprised that the end result of human wisdom is arrogance, selfishness, envy, anger, hatred, prejudice, and the indulgence of every fleshly desire. Quite often, men who seek after human wisdom get an inflated view of their own intelligence and importance, and begin to think they “deserve” whatever they desire, and simultaneously begin to look down on others who are not as “wise” as they. In the end, these men are not “wise” at all, for they have no fear of God.
True wisdom [which begins with the fear of God] will humble a man, rather than making him arrogant. Knowing God, and then willingly showing Him the greatest honor and respect for who He is, will most certainly humble a man, for it is then he understands that, in the big picture, he is nothing compared to God. He will understand his wisdom is but a speck, compared to what God knows and understands; he will acknowledge that there are many things God knows and understands that he will never know, much less understand. As Socrates once said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” Socrates at least understood that much.
For you young folks about to move out on your own for the first time, or who have graduated on to the next level of education or life itself, make sure you make your life’s pursuit a search for what is the most valuable possession you could ever have: wisdom that begins with the fear of God. The world will be trying to convince you belief in God is nonsense but, friends, it is the most sensible thing there is!
Don’t let this world distract you from the pursuit of this wisdom; don’t let others convince you it is a futile effort; don’t believe the lies that says human wisdom is the greatest goal in life. Don’t ever forget what you now know about God, for the devil will be constantly whispering lies to you in an effort to lead you back into the world and away from truth and God and anything righteous, godly, and holy.
As you seek this wisdom — wherever you are in life — seek it as if you were looking for the most valuable treasure a man could ever obtain. Because it is. It is this wisdom that leads a man to know God, know Christ, know himself, and know salvation. Without it, one cannot know God or Christ and, thus, not know salvation, and he will only be deceiving himself about who he really is.
Now, GO! — Steven Harper
