Introduction: I was discussing land with a peer from work recently. He was telling me about the family farm he grew up on, and of the possibility that some of his relatives may continue selling off the property that he was reared upon, and of his deep desire to retain the property. His memories are tied to that land. He drove his grandpa’s tractor on that land. He tended cattle on that land. He hunted that land and grew crops on that land, etc. He loves it.

I think many of us can relate to his feelings. He values the land and hates to think that some new guy will come in and make a financial offer the family can’t refuse. Or can they? It can get muddy and quite involved rather quickly because values come into conflict. Should temporary financial gain be the overriding factor? Should nostalgia and family memories get involved? If so, to what degree? The questions could, of course, continue.

Context, Context, Context:  In Proverbs 2, Solomon is imparting wisdom to his son. Wisdom is not just information; it is deeper than that. Folks can often get lots of information, but knowing how to sift, sort, and mine wisdom from information is a skill that must be cultivated.

Text: “if you seek it [wisdom] like silver and search for it [wisdom] as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Pr 2:4-5).

Encouragement: In Mt 13:44, Jesus is teaching, and he says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Thin in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” He’s teaching of the supreme value of this hidden treasure, the kingdom of heaven. In other words, it’s recognizing the distinction between the temporal and the eternal. So often our appetites are for junk when treasure is available. It’d be like settling for plastic-wrapped donuts from the QuikTrip when a fine cut of beef is available. Wisdom is called for, in order to know how to discern kitsch from jewels. (And yes, I hope my peer’s family keeps their property. We don’t need another strip mall.)