Gold in the Trashcan

He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs 16:20)

There have been many times when I listened to the Truth but did not hear it and read the Bible without genuine comprehension. A truth is not fully heard and understood until it causes one’s life to change. Sometimes truth is not even recognized when it appears because it might be the answer to a question that we are not yet asking, it may be outside our “box” of what we consider valid possibilities, or we may just be distracted.

But, life in this world has a way of eventually “getting our attention” and making us sensitive to the truths God wants us to hear and apply. Anything that gets us to hearing, changing and walking in the truth of God’s grace, love and rightness is a good thing even if it seems to be a bad circumstance. Deaths, accidents, illness and relationship problems are some painful circumstances that get our focused attention. But, there are easier ways.

One way is to admit our deafness, blindness and cold heart and ask God for ears to hear, eyes to see His light, and the heart of a seeker. A seeker will approach the hearing or reading of God’s Word and truths with the idea that he wants to find a golden nugget that will change his life. These are often little nuggets that cause little but vital changes. It could be something “little” like David writing down his prayers or daily practicing with his sling or his harp. Or, it could be something seemingly bigger as when Daniel decided to stand on a conviction about his diet. The change could be of earthquake magnitude as when Abraham left his county and people to go wherever God led him. The truth became golden nuggets in the life of these boys and men. We know their names and stories because God's Word had an effect in flesh and blood. What are we missing in our own lives?

If we are not daily reading or hearing then we are not particularly interested in looking for God’s gold for our lives and God will work to get our attention refocused. In contrast, committed lottery players may spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars hoping to eventually hit the jackpot. They carefully check the numbers on their tickets and are cautious to not throw away a winning ticket. If we could see with God's eyes the riches that God lays before each of us, we would be shocked and overwhelmed. But, we really are blind and often do not recognize genuine riches until they are lost. When we hear truth without it affecting our life, we are essentially tossing a nugget or even a life-transforming bucket of gold into the trash bin.

Project:

• Daily read Scripture with a notepad to record something that, by God’s grace, you will change in your life.
• Listen to sermons with the diligence aim of getting a truth that you will apply.
• Immediately after sermons or lessons, discuss with others what nuggets were heard and will be applied.
• Pray frequently for God's power to seek, hear, see and do.
  

For with you is the fountain of life: in your light shall we see light. - Psalm 36:9

Lord, grace each of us that read this with desire and ability to become Seekers of Truth and Doers of your Word. Give us a heart thirsting for your ways.