"Thar's gold in them thar hills!"

One of my favorite magazines is Montana Outdoors, because of the interesting articles about Montana and the incredible photography in each issue. (My wife would probably say that like a child, I need to have lots of pictures in my reading assignments!) In the latest issue of Montana Outdoors, Marshall Riggan's words were used to describe the people of Montana:

"South of Badger Pass, near Grasshopper Creek, there is a bridge to who we were and are. A ghost town now…Bannack was once a booming, lawless, dream-filled town, capital of the Montana Territory. And if the essence of who we are was nourished by the solitudes of the wilderness, it was also forged by gold fever. For the first time in world history, any man, regardless of birth, could become fabulously wealthy in the wink of an eye. There was gold in Grasshopper Creek."

Even though the 'bridge' linking me to the fabulously wealthy past of Montana's gold was torn down before I got here, Riggan's point about many of Montana's early settlers is well made; many came to Montana, willing to risk their lives if necessary to strike it rich. The value of gold lured many to Montana.

One of the men in the Bible also spoke about the value of gold, silver and other precious metals-and what we will do to find and mine them:

"There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways. Man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains. He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures. He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.

(Job 28:1-4, 9-11 NIV)

Nothing startling about that, is there? Job was simply saying we are motivated by anything we value as much as gold. Even though he wrote these words 3500 years before the gold rush to Montana, a place 'far from where people dwell', his observations of human behavior have not changed. Hidden deep in the ground-carried along in a river-not an obstacle for us; we'll get it out! What was Job's point? The next verse tells us:

"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?

A person who reading too quickly could miss Job's point. Because of their value to us, we searched for these precious metals, then dug up mountains and strained rivers to get them out. Yet, we don't know where to begin looking for wisdom-why? Job makes it clear in verse 13.

Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.

No value! Addressing man's ignorance of the value of wisdom, Job offers an expert's 'appraisal':

It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. (Job 28:15, 17-18 NIV)

Why is wisdom so valuable…more valuable than gold? Among other things, it is the one thing God recommends for us in the part of life that many in our community have experienced recently-trials, difficulties and tragedies.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:2-5 NIV)

First, notice it says 'testing of your faith'. Many wait until the time of trials to begin to look for their faith in God. These verses tell us trials are the date of our mid-term exam, not the time to sign up for the course. How would you respond to the student who never attended class, took the mid-term exam, got a miserable grade, then complained about the professor? We need to study, study, study our faith before the exam. But! How can we 'consider these pure joy'? Without wisdom from God, it is impossible. That is why Job valued wisdom so highly. With unparalleled trials, Job knew wisdom from God was the only medicine for the pain of trials and sufferings. Job concludes, telling us where we can 'stake our claim'.

"Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:20, 23-28 NIV)

What about you? Have you 'staked you claim'? Don't wait on the stampede of a gold rush!

I thought, 'Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.' But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. (Job 32:7-9 NIV)