Proverbs 2:1–5 My
child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your
ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for
insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would
for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will
understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
Have you ever heard a baby cry when he or she is really hungry?
Is there any question as to whether or not that child wants something? How
about when a middle schooler missed breakfast, and now it is lunchtime? Ever
see food inhaled? What does any healthy teenager say when they are waiting for
Pizza, but the delivery is late? “I’m starving!” Like they have been in a famine, yet it
has been a day full of snacks, goodies and sodas!
When our physical hunger alarm goes off, we can be fierce in
satisfying that appetite. What about our spiritual hunger? How do we know if we
are truly hungering for more of God’s nourishment, or just snacking, filling
instead on the “junk” food from this world?
This portion of Proverbs gives us some great insight! Let’s
examine the words used here and what they teach us that hunger looks like.
"Listen" – Information is coming at us so fast
today, we must make ourselves slow down enough to allow His Word to penetrate
our mind. Listening is not just receiving data, it is digestion information
that allows for transformation.
"Treasure" – What do we really value? What we love, we
will pursue!
Matthew 6:21 for
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"Tune" - is His Spirit or our flesh controlling us?
If our life “dial” is tuned into self we will miss what God is saying. We must bring
our life in tune with His Spirit and Word.
"Concentrate" - Do we continue to digest and digest
again what God is saying to us? Do we treat His Word as a quick snack, or a
gourmet meal that should be taken in a bite at a time, enjoying each morsel to
it's fullest? We will get out of His Word what we put into it. Snack only and
we will either be spiritually malnourished or starve. Slow down, taste, digest
each thought and enjoy!
“Cry out” – This phrase expresses an intensity. This is not some desire we “kinda”
want! Question yourself, if I don’t get His Word into me, how will I feel?
The answer will show you more than you might want to know. Whining comes from
the surface, crying begins in the depths of your affections. You want it so bad
it hurts!
“Ask” – To ask requires being proactive. How many times have we
experienced a scene in a movie where someone is angry because information was
withheld from them and they say, “You never told me!” The response they get
is, “You
never asked!” We need to be reminded what our brother James said.
James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
God is waiting and desirous
to share His wisdom…but most times He will not force-feed us! We need to ask!
“Search & Seek” – Interesting here, both words in the
original are similar, however, the first one has more to do with securing
information, while the other is even used concerning searching through a house
for “plunder!” The
issue we need to get is that there is a fervent commitment to find something,
whether it be information or something tangible that is valued by the one
searching. 
Beloved, God never plays “Hide and Seek” with the Truth. He
chooses to progressively share with us His wisdom in a way that produces
maturity. When we do not understand the gospel, He will spoon-feed us. However,
once we have been shown the Truth, He will leave our next meals up to us. If we
desire to remain on milk, He will allow us to, God understands that unless we
really want it, we will not keep it! God shares His Truth with so many that
just throw it away. Because of His grace and mercy He continues to do so, yet,
because He loves us and knows that spiritual maturity is the greatest freedom,
He will make us deal with the question; “How bad do I really want it?” 
The Lord states the truth in such a way that we have to face
it! All of us would agree how much excitement, anticipation and energy we would
have if we possessed a treasure map that we absolutely knew…if
we searched diligently enough we would find that treasure! God takes a desire
that all of us would have and challenges us to rethink our priorities. It would
be normal to be excited about finding a treasure that made us rich materially,
we just should not fall in love with it!
“The so what?” Do
we see God’s revelation of Himself as a treasure? How hard do we seek for
it? Do we spend time digging into His Word to see if His Spirit will illuminate
more truth to us? Can you pray this prayer: Father, produce in me a hunger for
Your Word, that I might pursue You more than I would worldly treasure.
