By Ps Ho Wei Liang
We are quite willing to put an incredible amount of effort into pursuing something that’s important to us. Quite recently, I purchased a computer monitor to increase my work productivity from home, although I must confess that I use it for entertainment purposes too. Before deciding which monitor to purchase, I read online reviews, researched the manufacturer’s reputation, found out technical specifications, researched technical terms which I did not understand, then compared the specifications across various brands and models.
Our outer efforts and curiosity often show us what our inner hearts cherish and value. Other things that we know or even say are important to us might not receive the same level of effort—often to our detriment. In the book of Proverbs, being curious and diligent about learning God’s ways is vital for life. The father in Proverbs encourages his son to pursue God’s ways, saying, “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, and 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” (Prov. 2:1-5).
The father wants his son to learn about God’s ways, to gain wisdom and understanding so that he may apply them to his life. The knowledge of God is described as a treasure to be actively searched out; the son must first desire it and apply himself to seek understanding in the same way one might hunt silver or treasure—feverishly. If we are to know God, we must spare no effort and leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of Him.
Do our efforts and decisions reflect a heart that cries out to God for His wisdom? We might claim to be followers of Christ, but do our actions really reflect a life of taking up our cross and following him? God has redeemed us at a great price with the death of His son. He desires that we turn over our lives wholly to Him—and that includes pursuing Him with all our being. Will you follow the words of the Father? Let’s do it together in the context of our community here at ORPC!