The longer I live on earth the more I realize that which is tangible carries some value, but that which is intangible carries a value that cannot be measured with earthy elements. People spend their best years pursing the tangible. Gold, silver, diamonds, dollars, pearls, positions, power, but they were not born with this pursuit, they learned it. We were born humble, dependent, and we loved to learn. Our eyes opened and we wanted to see, our ears opened and we wanted to hear. We were so curious, so free, so fun to be around. People would ooh and ahh over us and we were just being us. How did we lose that? Who taught us to value tangible things which have no lasting value, no real significance?

The Lord has put many tangible things in the earth for our enjoyment, but they were not meant to become our gods, our pursuit, our distaction from the joy of living, really living. When the created gets more attention than the Creator, we lose our sense of awe and wonder, pursuit and passion, joy and enjoyment. Job 28 says it this way when it comes to what has real value, “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? God understands its way, And He knows its place. And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.” Wisdom and understanding are intangibles that carry great value but you can’t buy them you are given them for departing from evil and living in obedience to the voice of God.

Wisdom and understanding, Proverbs tells us yield a return that is eternal, a joy that is undeniable and a peace that is unspeakable. People who are wise and understanding are not rushing here and there trying to make something happen, they are resting, rejoicing and pursing what is truly valuable, God Himself. Is it possible your challenges are because of your pursuit? It is never too late to change what you pursue for the sake of becoming childlike again.