Page Three: “All The Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge” 1/06/13
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(5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
Folks, do you believe wisdom is the principal thing? Do you believe that Jesus Christ knows you inside and out? Do you believe that in Him dwells all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge? As you can easily see, the Christian has the greatest Resources known to man available to him. So, are you looking to Christ daily for His help? The Greek Philosopher Epicurus wrote about wisdom in the first century and tells us who needs it. He said this. “Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in the search of it when he is old. For no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul. And to say that the season for studying philosophy has not yet come, or that it is past and gone, is like saying that the season for happiness is not yet or that it is now no more. Therefore both old and young ought to seek wisdom…” [Found on http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/s9152.pdf] And Plato wrote that “philosophy begins in wonder.” [ibid. see above citation]. It’s been said that the greatest treasure ever discovered was a sunken ship off the coast of South Carolina. In the year 1857, The S.S. Central America made its way from California to New York City. It carried 578 people and ten tons of gold. On September 11, 1857, a Category Two Hurricane sank the S.S. Central America just off the Carolinas. Just 206 people were rescued from the ship. At the time the ship sank, the gold was worth two million American Dollars. The S.S. Central America was discovered on Sept. 11, 1987 and the recovered gold is estimated to be worth upwards to 150 million dollars. One of the gold bars recovered weighs 80 pounds and sold for 80 million dollars. Because of the gold inside the ship, it was re-named “The Ship of Gold.” |
Now it’s likely that one of the main reasons the ship went down was because it was loaded so heavily with the ten tons of gold.
But, as great a story that is about a hidden treasure, let me remind you that there’s an even greater treasure in this world and that is the one found in the Person of Jesus. Proverbs 3:15 says “She [wisdom] is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” Can you imagine wisdom being called a treasure? Here’s why. For one, a treasure is valuable. But not every sees or knows of its value. Second, it is well-hidden. And third, only those who see the value in the treasure will search for it. Did you notice that the Bible says “In Whom are hidden al the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”? Every book I’ve ever read that includes a treasure has one basic theme. The treasure is hidden. And there usually are plenty of people who not only see the value of it, but they do all they can to uncover it. And practically speaking, if you knew the value of a treasure and you knew where it was located even though it was well-hidden, would you or would you not make the effort to find it? When something is hidden, it’s hidden for a reason. And it takes a willingness on your part to uncover that wisdom. The Scripture tells us: One, Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Two, James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” First, get wisdom. Second, ask God for it. Now third, knowing that this treasure is hidden in Jesus Christ, there is just one way you can be sure that you will uncover it and benefit by it --- obedience. |