Feb
3
Serious Searching
Filed Under Devotional
The benefit of perspective has shown me that my parents were teaching me important lessons, but there were definitely times when they annoyed the heck out of me. One particular lesson that was taught repeatedly to me and my sisters was learning how to look for a missing item.
The scenario was always something like this: Dad sends you downstairs to find an item. After a few minutes of looking, you call up saying you can’t find it. Dad replies with, “Try looking a little harder.” A few more minutes pass with no luck, so you call again. Dad comes downstairs, finds the item in five seconds and then spends the next five minutes on a lecture about how to make an effort to look and search. This usually included demonstrations.
I know I learned that lesson, because I found myself teaching it to my son in almost exactly the same way. Really searching for something valuable takes effort. It’s not a casual glance around or a passive moving of papers. It’s more like opening every drawer, looking behind every book, and even moving furniture, if necessary. You work hard to find something really important.
I was reminded of how hard I needed to be searching, when I read this Proverb about seeking wisdom:
“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.” Proverbs 2:4-5
Are you searching for wisdom like you would for hidden treasure? Or, is Dad going to have to come find it for you?