How To Find the Hidden Treasure

My husband has several unusual hobbies. Other than the ordinary playing golf and watching sports, he is also very talented at arranging flowers and doing anything artistic. But one of his childhood interests that he continues as a hobby today is rock collecting. He had the best time foraging for precious gems in a large bucket of dirt on our last visit to Gatlinburg, TN. Frankly, I walked right by the big sign advertising the hidden gems. I wasn’t interested because I was skeptical that there was anything good in that bucket of dirt. 

Denny, however, was willing to roll up his sleeves and work to find those buried stones. Some children gathered around him to watch, and they began to squeal in excitement as each treasure was retrieved through the mucky sludge. Denny patiently brushed off the rocks, examining them closely to judge their value. He found treasures others had passed by because He made an effort to look. But the reason he made an effort to look was that he believed there was something of value in the dirt.

Do you believe there is anything of value for you in the Bible? I wonder how many Bibles are simply passed by, ignored by people who overlook the hidden treasures inside because they don’t know the value. Perhaps they are skeptical that there even is anything of value inside. Or maybe they feel it takes too much work to find the treasure. Admittedly, some parts of the Bible are hard to understand if you have never studied it. But the Bible even gives us advice about how to understand The Bible!

Proverbs 2:3-5 says, “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.” 

Wow! I don’t know about you, but I’d like to be full of the knowledge of God. But these verses explain that it doesn’t just happen. If we really want to know God intimately and be filled with His wisdom, we have to do some things. First, we have to ask Him for that insight. The Psalmist basically says BEG HIM, using the words “call out” and “cry aloud.” That’s a pretty intense plea, spilling from a fervent heart’s desire. Do you really want to know God better? Ask Him to teach you. Pray for Him to give you understanding and wisdom to understand His Word.

The second thing the Psalmist tells us to do is to expend effort in seeking out the wisdom of God.  He says, “Search for it as for hidden treasure.” That’s the problem with treasure that is hidden. If it’s not in plain sight, many people will pass it by, oblivious of its value. But those, like Denny, who are willing to take the time and make the effort to sit down and patiently search, patiently dig…those are the ones who find the treasure. 

I have helped in a search for a missing person. Let me tell you this about a search…it is not a haphazard hunt. The search directors assigned designated areas for each team. When we finished an area, we spray painted the road in front of the woods to communicate that the specific area had been searched. There was a very organized plan. Do you have a plan to read your Bible? If not, make one! Schedule it on your calendar. And just as a search party has a team, find your team! Ask for a friend’s help to keep you accountable. 

Is your Bible covered in dust? Forage through the dust in anticipation of finding precious jewels. Ask God to teach you, cry aloud to Him for understanding, and follow through on an organized plan. Find a team of friends to encourage you. May you find buckets of hidden treasure! He is like no other treasure!