Proverbs 2

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, October 4.

If you were given a treasure map, which led to a fortune beyond comparison, how would you seek after it? Would you make it your full-time endeavor, or would you dilly dally around in your pursuit of the hidden treasure? Of course, you wouldn’t waste time; if there was something of greatest importance to pursue, all other endeavors would be reprioritized, so that you could you focus your time, energy, and resources on searching for the treasure. In Proverbs 2:1-5, Solomon instructs his students to do the same, but not for the riches of this world:

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.

Jesus, the embodiment of God’s wisdom, teaches His disciples to do the same in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Furthermore, Jesus commands in verse 33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” To fear the Lord is to reprioritize everything else in your life to serve the pursuit of God and His vast riches, given to you through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You will only learn this by putting into action the wisdom God has commanded you to follow.