Panning for Gold

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As I sit here and write these words, I can hear an owl whoo-whoo-whoo'ing behind me, in the woods. What a fit accompaniment for today's meditation, as the owl has long been a symbol in the Western world, of wisdom.

"Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you;

collect my counsels and guard them with your life.

Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;

set your heart on a life of Understanding.

That's right - - - if you make Insight your priority,

and won't take 'no' for an answer,

Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,

like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,

Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;

you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

And here's why:  God gives out Wisdom free,

is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
Proverbs 2:1-6 (The Message)

These words are for people of any age, believers and non-believers.

To the non-believer, this passage says that God wants to be found and that He will let Himself be found by the one who earnestly seeks Him.  This is the only path to true wisdom.  And, how has God revealed Himself to modern man?  Through His written word, the Bible.

Much of Proverbs, including this passage, was written by a parent to his child.  None of us sucks our faith out of a baby bottle.  Each of us must seek God and find Him for ourselves.  Oh!  How I wish it were not so.  That pesky "free will"! As a parent, I long to be able to bequeath my faith, my spiritual wealth, to my children as I'll bequeath my earthly, material assets.  But, God has not ordained it to be so.  Each of us must call out to Him for salvation on our own.  If you are an unbeliever, I encourage you to do that today!

So many of my contemporaries, even those who have led godly and upright lives before their children, agonize over their offsprings' wayward ways.  It is pure heartbreak to watch one you love so much wander away from God and follow after those who have influenced them to reject Him. While there is breath, there is life; while there is life, there is hope. ("Dum spiro spero" - Latin)  If this situation describes your family, earnestly cry out to God for His wisdom and favor, for both your children and yourself!

But, this passage is applicable to older folks as well.  Often, older folks are looked to for wisdom. Sometimes they have it; sometimes they don't.  The Bible makes it plain in the Proverbs that wisdom comes from God and nowhere else.  This is why any Knowledge that does not jive with God's written word must be rejected.  If an older person has walked with God and continues to do so, then he or she can be a reliable advisor.  That is what I long to be as I continue through my latter years.

"White hair is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness."

Proverbs 16:31

(Jubilee Bible 2000)

Many retirees, like myself, find themselves wondering if God is finished with them.  For many, it is a massive adjustment, heading into the sunset of life.  I've known some who view this time of life with a huge sense of entitlement.  Because of this belief that they've "earned the right" they feel that they can just set their faith on the shelf and stop serving God, adopting instead extreme self-centeredness. Or, they believe they have some special dispensation to be brash, harsh and hurtful with others.  We see this in "the world" a lot, though unfortunately some older saints have adopted this attitude too. This is not loving behavior, nor does it help bring anyone closer to our Savior.

"Who is wise and has understanding among you?  

He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness."

James 3:13 

(Holman Christian Standard version)

Ministries that any believer of any age can have, whether young or old, whether infirm or healthy, are these:

• prayer, 
• the seeking of wisdom and 
• the dispensing of it with love.  

What good is wisdom if it is not shared in love?  Oh, this verse, Proverbs 12:18 (ESV) - - - 

"There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Whoa.... we want to be in the latter category, do we not?  Let's "set our hearts on a life of Understanding" and a ministry of loving others, no matter our age, wherever God calls us!  Let's seek Him and serve Him, to the end of our days!

Blessed, Holy One!  You are unfathomable!  Yet, you allow Yourself to be known in the limited ways we can comprehend.  Thank you for giving to all who ask, Your wisdom.  May we seek it, not only for our own benefit, but so that we may bless others.  May we share it with love and humility, not out of a desire to control or out of arrogance.  In this way, we can reflect our Savior and walk ... ...resplendent!  In Jesus' name, amen.