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Proverbs 23:5; 20:15; 16:16; 8:10, 11; Psalm 119:98-100; Jeremiah 15:16; I Kings 3:3-28; Ephesians 1:15-19; Colossians 1:9, 10; II Timothy 2:7; Acts 8:26-35; Luke 24:13-32; John 5:20; Matthew 13:44; 5:1-8

We can be treasure hunters for truth. God tells us in His Word the most precious things in life fall into the categories of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. These are things God wants us to have, and He does not reveal them to those who have no hunger for Him.

Knowledge is information or Biblical principle. It is one thing to have knowledge, but another to know what to do with it and understand it. Paul, for example, knew all the law, but he did not understand about Jesus Christ. After his conversion, he went to Arabia for three years to seek the heart of God. It may at times takes years for us to understand the knowledge we have received.

David’s prayer was that he would have more understanding than his teachers. He meditated on the Word, meaning he concentrated and thought about the Word — speaking it to himself. He had knowledge, but also had the wisdom to apply the Word of God and therefore get a richer understanding.

Jeremiah said he found God’s Word and did eat them and they were the joy and rejoicing of his heart. He searched for them. The words "did eat them" are a figure of speech relating to how we eat food, enjoy it and assimilate it. In the process, God gave him the understanding, which caused great rejoicing in Jeremiah’s heart.

When God asked Solomon what he desired, he told God he wanted an understanding heart to judge God’s people. God gave him his desire.

God’s heart is that we, too, would have spiritual understanding. However, there are conditions to what God provides. He is not a respecter of persons, but He does respect conditions such as meekness, humility, mourning for sin and hunger and thirst for righteousness. Ephesians speaks of the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. The "eyes" refer to the heart.

"Understanding" comes from the Greek meaning "a flowing together of rivers into one." When our thoughts come together and click, we get it. This is the Greek word for understanding.

Timothy was taught by Paul, who said to Timothy, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." We can guide or lead people to the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is only God Who can give understanding.

In Matthew, the Lord speaks of the kingdom of heaven being like a treasure hid in a field which a man found, then sold everything he had to obtain. The man knew the value of the field. He was willing to forsake everything to acquire the greatest treasure he could imagine in his life. Is not knowledge, wisdom and understanding more precious than any earthly treasure?

We can have great joy, like Jeremiah did, as we hunt through the treasure of the scriptures, asking God for knowledge, wisdom and understanding.


#TOM 02/02 Spiritual Treasure Hunters -- February 24, 2002 ©2001 / Steven A. Michels 78:18 minutes
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"Spiritual Treasure Hunters"- Rev. Steven A. Michels Proverbs 23:5; 20:15; 16:16; 8:10, 11; Psalm 119:98-100; Jeremiah 15:16; I Kings 3:3-28; Ephesians 1:15-19; Colossians 1:9, 10; II Timothy 2:7; Acts 8:26-35; Luke 24:13-32; John 5:20; Matthew 13:44; 5:1-8 We can be treasure hunters for truth. God tells us in His Word the most precious things in life fall into the categories of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. These are things God wants us to have, and He does not reveal them to those who have no hunger for Him. Knowledge is information or Biblical principle. It is one thing to have knowledge, but another to know what to do with it and understand it. Paul, for example, knew all the law, but he did not understand about Jesus Christ. After his conversion, he went to Arabia for three years to seek the heart of God. It may at times takes years for us to understand the knowledge we have received. David’s prayer was that he would have more understanding than his teachers. He meditated on the Word, meaning he concentrated and thought about the Word — speaking it to himself. He had knowledge, but also had the wisdom to apply the Word of God and therefore get a richer understanding. Jeremiah said he found God’s Word and did eat them and they were the joy and rejoicing of his heart. He searched for them. The words "did eat them" are a figure of speech relating to how we eat food, enjoy it and assimilate it. In the process, God gave him the understanding, which caused great rejoicing in Jeremiah’s heart. When God asked Solomon what he desired, he told God he wanted an understanding heart to judge God’s people. God gave him his desire. God’s heart is that we, too, would have spiritual understanding. However, there are conditions to what God provides. He is not a respecter of persons, but He does respect conditions such as meekness, humility, mourning for sin and hunger and thirst for righteousness. Ephesians speaks of the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. The "eyes" refer to the heart. "Understanding" comes from the Greek meaning "a flowing together of rivers into one." When our thoughts come together and click, we get it. This is the Greek word for understanding. Timothy was taught by Paul, who said to Timothy, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." We can guide or lead people to the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is only God Who can give understanding. In Matthew, the Lord speaks of the kingdom of heaven being like a treasure hid in a field which a man found, then sold everything he had to obtain. The man knew the value of the field. He was willing to forsake everything to acquire the greatest treasure he could imagine in his life. Is not knowledge, wisdom and understanding more precious than any earthly treasure? We can have great joy, like Jeremiah did, as we hunt through the treasure of the scriptures, asking God for knowledge, wisdom and understanding.