There is something about the value and splendor precious metals that has always attracted the human eye. If we stop and think about it, much of America’s westward expansion was due to precious metals. Many pioneers came from the East in search of silver and gold.
In 1849, people heard about the gold in California and “rushed” to find some for themselves. This is the background for the name of the San Francisco 49ers, a National Football League team. In 1859, there was another “rush” into the Pike’s Peak district which later became Colorado. Gold had been discovered, and a mob of 50,000 prospectors were drawn to this territory like a magnet. They came from California, the Mississippi Valley, and the East. One last important gold find is worth noting. In 1874, gold was found in the Black Hills of the southwestern Dakota Territory.
It was the prospect of a better life that drew these people from place to place in the west. Gold and silver could make one wealthy. And for that reason, it was worth earnestly searching for. Many left their homes and exhausted their resources in search for gold and silver. The wisest of all men, Solomon, uses the search for precious metals and hidden treasures as a comparison to our quest for spiritual wisdom:
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if seek her as 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).
All throughout the Proverbs Solomon tries to aid in our search for true wisdom. Always pointing to God as the source of that truth, Solomon wants us to have the same passion to seek after the wisdom and knowledge of God as we would the things that hold monetary value to our lives. He even goes on to teach that all things under the sun are pointless without having God. God is the one that has given all things and all things will return to Him. After talking about the truths in life and what has worth and what doesn’t matter, Solomon gives one final conclusion that is the exactly what we all need if we truly are searching for wisdom.
He had this to say, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is; fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14).
As a person what are you searching for?
