A Family Legacy’s Principle of Success

Proverbs 2:
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.
6. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

These verses are intended to communicate to us the exceeding value of knowledge, understanding and wisdom by comparing it to silver and hidden treasures. This silver and hidden treasure is considered to be so desirable that is to be sought after and searched for. This is not easy to gather low hanging fruit, but rather requires blood, toil, sweat and tears to obtain. But what if a person is so “spiritual” that they do not value silver and hid treasure and would not waste a minute of their time pursuing or preserving either one? To them that’s crass materialism. Well, if they think that, then it would seem that “spiritual” person could not understand what these verses are talking about. If one doesn’t value silver and hidden treasures, how can one value that for which they are the point of comparison?

Think about it. If you are mining silver from the ground, or searching for another kind of hidden treasure, it will take resources, planning, sacrifice, focus, risk and perseverance to be successful. A similar effort is required for obtaining wisdom. You have to apply yourself to the effort. But an interesting thing happens along the way. You find out that your efforts, while necessary, are not sufficient. True wisdom is a gift from God and it begins with the fear of the Lord.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111:10)

Do you see how the fear of God and understanding is closely related to obeying his commandments?

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiates 12:13-14)

And the New Testament says the same thing.

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23)

Here is where ones pursuit of an enduring Family Legacy must begin. The message of the Book of Proverbs is that all success in life flows from this principle.