Proverbs 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures.

How do men seek money? What will they do to get rich? How about success? What will men do to achieve success? How about sportsmen? What will they do to attain the Olympic gold medal? And talking about the Olympic gold medal, the talk of the town since last Saturday is that Singapore has finally won a gold medal in the Olympic Games held in Rio. The whole country is still in a state of ecstasy. It is a first in the country’s fifty-one years history. Our swimmer has not only brought home a gold medal but also broken an Olympic record clocking 50.39 seconds in the 100metres men’s butterfly. Joseph Isaac Schooling has become the nation’s hero and the most famous swimmer in the world after beating three of the world’s best swimmers.

How did Schooling do it? It started with a dream and the determination to make the dream comes true. It took seven years of discipline, training and will power to win the Olympic gold medal. Today, he can tell the world he has made his dream comes true.

Solomon is right: if you want to achieve success in anything, you have to seek it out as silver and hidden treasures. “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” (Pro 2:4-5).

Solomon is referring to the wisdom and knowledge of God. Today, the Bible is the least studied book even from among Christians. Many are not studying the bible the way they ought to. It is the reason there is a famine of the knowledge of God. The word of God is not in the lips of God’s people.

Some have asked me how I got my knowledge of the word of God. The answer is simple: I’ve never let a day passed me by without spending some time on the word of God. If you want to grow in the knowledge of the word of God, you must seek it out like silver and hidden treasures. There is no short cut to acquiring knowledge: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).

It saddens me when men reject the whole counsel of God but stick to what they think is right. Argument such as, “I don’t drink but I don’t think drinking is wrong,” is the same as endorsing it. One might also say, “I don’t smoke but I don’t think smoking is wrong” or “I don’t watch pornography but I don’t think watching a bit is wrong.” It does not matter if one steals an apple or a million dollar; he is still a thief. Likewise, it does not matter if one drinks one cup or ten bottles; he is guilty of the sin of drunkenness (1 Cor 6:10; Gal 5:21). Sin is not measured by volume or its seriousness but a little sin is still a sin.  “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt 5:28).

Solomon is advising young men to watch out for sin (Pro 2:12-22). And the way to do so is to let the wisdom and knowledge of God dwell in them. The Psalmist says: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psa 119:11).

It is not what I do or will not do that makes an action right or wrong; it is what the bible says that decides whether an action is right or wrong. And if men would search the scripture in the way they are hunting for hidden treasures or chasing after that Olympic gold medal, they can attain the knowledge of God and know if an action is sinful or not.

I would that children of God spend more time searching the scripture than for the Pokémon. The Bible is the only thing I would want to have with me if I were to be shipwrecked in an unknown island. It is a book I can never get tired of reading. Even after having read for almost five decades, I can only exclaim like the queen of Sheba: “Behold, the half was not told me” (1 Kings 10:7). What I know is still so little and it’s the reason I will not stop searching the scripture.

Is the word of God precious to you? Meditate on it day and night and let it be your guide leading to the path of righteousness and godliness: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa 119:105).

  

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.