Proverbs 2:1-5

Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Store up my commands within you, the word store means to hide or treasure.  This is the same word used in Psalm 119:11 which instructs us to hide God's Word in our hearts.  

I am reminded of a verse in Matthew where Jesus challenges the people to check their hearts.  He said "where your treasure is their your heart will be, store up treasure in heaven not on earth."  Yet in our culture today what we are constantly bombarded with is storing up treasure on earth.  A saying that I have seen plastered on posters is "He who dies with the most toys wins."  Usually in the picture is a huge house and several exotic sports cars sitting in front of the house.  I remember thinking when I saw that poster as a kid yeah that is what I want and I think I may have even bought that poster.  Now I understand that those things are not wrong, but they are temporary.  What Solomon challenges his son with and what Jesus challenges his followers with is that their are things that we should treasure far above earthly or temporal things.  That those things will lead to a relationship with Christ and have eternal value.

As a youth pastor I am saddened today by so many students and families that are pursuing temporary over eternal.  Sadly what I see instead of wisdom is folly, why because ultimately the result of temporary things is foolishness.  But the pursuit of the eternal is wisdom and knowledge of God. My prayer is that we would see the reality of pursuing temporary things and see that even though sometimes the eternal things do not produce the most visible outcomes that God promises they have eternal weight and ultimately effect our lives in ways that they may not be seen by men but our seen by Him.

Father today help me to focus on the eternal and not get caught up in the rat race of life seeking temporary comfort.