“For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things
one may desire cannot be compared with her.”—Proverbs 8:11
Patrick Hruby in
his article for the Washington Times newspaper, The end is near ─ for Mayan
calendar myth, reported that, “A springtime poll of more
than 10,000 adults in 21 countries found that 8 percent had experienced fear or
anxiety over the world ending in December, with Chinese (20 percent), Russian
(13 percent) and American (12 percent) respondents being most likely to agree
with the statement that the Mayan calendar ‘marks the end of the world.’” Hruby gave the following information to show
how various countries are handling the doomsday that has been forecasted.
In Russia, there have been runs on candles, matches, salt and torches, prompting government officials to call for calm and the nation’s deputy emergency situations minister Sergei Anikeyev to proclaim, “We don’t believe in the ‘end of the world’ fable.”
In Russia, there have been runs on candles, matches, salt and torches, prompting government officials to call for calm and the nation’s deputy emergency situations minister Sergei Anikeyev to proclaim, “We don’t believe in the ‘end of the world’ fable.”
In China, the state press reports that a fringe
Christian group has been predicting that “the sun will not shine and
electricity will not work for three days.” Other reports say worried citizens
have been purchasing mass quantities of candles and that apocalypse-themed
websites peddle canned food, gas masks and fiberglass “survival pods.”
The
mayor of a Brazilian mountain town, San Francisco
de Paula, urged
local residents to stock up on food and supplies in anticipation of the worst.
The
government of Guatemala — home to the ancient Mayan city of
Tikal — forecasts a record number of foreign tourists in December.
The
Turkish village of Sirince, population 600, expects up to 60,000 visitors this month;
largely because New Age spiritualists believe its location has a “positive energy”
that will protect the area from global catastrophe.
Some people in America have gone so far to build underground
bunkers and stock them with food and water.
According to a news report, the CEO of a company that is located in
California who is producing underground bunkers is planning to fly to Texas
where his underground bunker is located.
He will spend the week-end in his luxury bunker and then fly back to
California for work on Monday.
Because we live in what is called the “Information Age,” it is
important to know the best way to deal with the information. I have noticed
that while there is a lot of knowledge floating around, there is not much wisdom. Godly
wisdom is the capacity to see things from the Lord’s viewpoint and respond
according to scriptural principles. You
can not instantly download that ability, but you can acquire it gradually over
time.
In God’s opinion, the most valuable treasure to be had is wisdom,
“For wisdom is better than rubies, and
all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her” (Proverbs 8:11).
As believers we need His perspective and
His principles to live the Christian life—that is why acquiring wisdom is not a suggestion but a
command, “Get wisdom! Get understanding!...”
(Proverbs 4:5).
People all over the world have risked their lives in a
single-minded quest for treasure. Wisdom is
worth so much more than all the money or riches in the world. In comparing the two, the Lord calls us to
passionately pursue godly knowledge and discernment.
Proverbs 8:17
personifies wisdom, “I love those who love me; and those who
diligently seek me will find me.” God will see to it that believers who pursue wisdom acquire it. Moreover, when the desire of our heart is
something with lasting value, we receive a bonus—knowledge, prudence, and
discretion, “I wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and find out knowledge and discretion” (Proverbs 8:12).
The wisest man of the Bible, King Solomon, wrote that the
beginning of wisdom was to acquire
it, “Wisdom is the principal thing;
therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).
Determine in your
heart to pursue this great treasure.
As you study the Word, seek the Lord’s
will, and observe His principles in action, God will pour wisdom into your mind and spirit which will help you to act in
faith—not fear.
Prayer—Father
I ask You to help me diligently to seek Your wisdom in all that I do, in Jesus
Name. Amen.
