“…turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:2-5
Everything about summer tells us it is time for a change of pace. Our internal impulse reminds us it is time to kick off our sandals, settle into a lawn chair by the beach, open a good book, sip some chilled lemonade and yes, unwind. Even churches will often take the summer off from certain ministry activities because they understand this intense pull to get away from the frenzy of work and be with family. Sadly, for some of us, summer tends to interfere with our regular spiritual disciplines, for instance, quiet times and prayer. If you’ve ever felt more exhausted after a long vacation, the same exhaustion can happen spiritually.
Therefore, no matter where we go on vacation, and no matter what other activities we may plan to do, it is important that we take the Word of God with us. It is our most essential summer item. In this verse, the writer of the book of Proverbs exhorts the reader to “turn your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding….” In an age where wisdom has evaporated, one must exert effort to find wisdom. One must “look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure….” Yet true, perfect and lasting wisdom can only be found in God’s word. So let us pack the word, read the word, call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding. Only then will we understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
The thrill of a summer trip does not even begin to compare with the trip of a lifetime that Jesus has already planned out for us. As we pack our bags, let us start with the bible. It will take us to places yet unknown, places beyond our imaginations. We will discover once again that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We will discover, deeper depths of the knowledge of God.
And to everyone who is “taking a break,” have a happy, healthy, safe, and spiritually nurturing summer!
AMEN!