Today was one of those days where I found myself asking God
for wisdom. In fact, I have been asking for wisdom a lot recently. It has
almost become a ritual done without thought.
The last two weeks I have been challenged, to my very core, by Job 28. The
words in this passage were spoken by a righteous man named Job at a point of
extreme loss and suffering in his life. Job’s words on wisdom, stated in the
midst of confusing events, are reminding me of what asking for wisdom really means.
According to Job, asking for wisdom is somewhat like
searching for earthly valuables. The
search for these earthly valuables—gold, iron, copper, ore—takes man deep into
the dark recesses of the earth. It takes him to “places forgotten by the foot
of man,” (v. 4) places unknown to the birds and proud beasts. It is hard work.
Man must “[assault] the flinty rock and [lay] bare the roots of the mountains” (v.9)
to find these earthly valuables. The search is intentional, purposeful, and
difficult. Yet, deemed worthy of effort
when the earthly valuable is uncovered.
Like earthly valuables, Job recognizes man does not know
where wisdom dwells or where it can be found. It too is “hidden from the eyes
of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air” (v. 21). It is
not in the deep, it is not in the sea. Although hidden like earthly valuables,
Job sets wisdom apart by assigning it greater worth. Job says wisdom,
“cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver
. . . . neither gold nor crystal can compare with it . . . the price of wisdom
is beyond rubies” (v.15-18). Four times
he states wisdom cannot be compared with or bought with the finest gold. Job
knows there is no price on wisdom.
Job also knows man “does not comprehend [wisdom’s] worth” (v.
13). If man understood wisdom was worth even
more than earth's greatest valuables, would he not search for it even more intently than those? Would he not be deem it worthy of even
more effort despite difficulties? Would he not be even more purposeful in his searching?
Ugh. I am challenged all over again writing this!
If I understood wisdom’s worth . . . IF . . . where would my
search begin? Quotes by famous philosophers or stars? A magazine with “101 wise
choices”? My friends? My family? The next “7 traits of wise people” article
shared on my Facebook newsfeed? My favorite song lyrics? I have to admit I am
searching all over this earth for something not of this earth. Job said,
“God understands the way to [wisdom] and he alone knows where it dwells for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to man, ‘the fear of the Lord—that is wisdom. And to shun evil is understanding.’” Job 28:23-28
My
search starts with God. To fear him I must know him. To know him I must seek
him and shun evil.
I ask for wisdom from God a lot, but I forget that I have a
role to search for it. Searching for wisdom is not natural. It requires
going to places forgotten by the foot of man. It requires assaulting the flinty
rock. It requires being intentional and purposeful. It requires time. It is difficult. Yet,
worthy of the effort for it is more valuable than anything I could possibly
comprehend. Practically, my search could mean going to God in prayer before
going to a friend with my latest decision conundrum. Perhaps, it might look like taking those five
minutes of scrolling through Facebook to memorize a truth of scripture instead.
Maybe, it means scheduling quiet time with God on my calendar like I would a
date with a friend. My search might mean making different media or entertainment choices. It might even change how I spend my time.
It is going to cost. Valuable things always cost, but “wisdom is supreme;
therefore get wisdom. Though it cost ALL you have, get understanding” Proverbs
4:7. No sacrifice is too great.
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