I’m not completely sure what the life of a gold digger is like. I imagine it involves a great amount of sifting. Each nugget is not something that he stumbles upon, but something that he was looking for and was filled with great joy when it was found. That is how my personal devotions are with the Lord. By personal devotions, I mean a quiet time that I set aside at least twice a day to read the Bible and pray. You could call them appointments with God. You cannot have a relationship with someone that doesn’t talk to you, and to whom you do not talk to. So, I talk to God through prayer and He talks to me through His Holy Words in the Bible.
This last week or two I have been in the book of Job. God has been showing me some great nuggets. I am overjoyed when I find them and I think I ought to share them.
The book starts out with letting you know you'll be making a trip into the land of Uz. Not Oz, that's Dorothy. This is about a man named Job, in the land of Uz:
Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
We are told that Job is a perfect and upright man, one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Now you may want to say, "God bless you," but I didn't sneeze. The Bible says that Job was a man that eschewed evil. That means that he shunned and avoided evil. Within my generation there is a great dearth of those that would eschew evil. Not only did Job eschew evil, but he was a perfect man. Since the 1600's (the King James Bible was translated from Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic in 1611) this word "perfect" has changed a little in the manner that we use it. Webster's 1828 dictionary informs us that this english word can mean any of the following; "Finished; complete...Fully informed; completely skilled...Complete in moral excellencies." In reference to Job, he was not without flaw, but speaking of his piety, Job was considered to be a complete and well-rounded moral man. He was upright, meaning that he was just man. He was not crooked. If Job entered into a business deal, you wouldn't have to worry that he would "do you wrong."
Most importantly, Job feared God. In this, Job was wise and his great wisdom is reflected later in the book.
Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
The truth that the fear of God is synonymous with wisdom is not an uncommon theme in the Bible. Here are some more Bible references where wisdom is coupled with the fear of the Lord:
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:1-5
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
I urge you to take heed to the Word of God. Will you be wise? Fear the Lord. Reverence Him. Stop using His Holy name in vain. Realize that the fear of the Lord for a Christian is not so much being afraid that His mighty hand will come crashing down upon you, but a fear that His gentle hand of blessing in this earthen life will be lifted from you. The fear of the Lord for a non-Christian is a fear and terror of God's great wrath against a sinner; to escape this wrath, please see the article titled "The Gospel" from Wednesday, April 23, 2008.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
