For kingdom business professionals, one of the most powerful injunctions the Bible gives us is to "get wisdom." The wisest of CEO's, Solomon, drives the lesson home time and again in the Book of Proverbs:

Do yourself a favor, and read again what the Book of Proverbs promises to those who seek and find godly wisdom, especially in Proverbs 3, 4 and 8. But this is just a little detour along the way to talk about something that really struck home to me recently about wisdom and how to get it.

I was reading in the wonderful book of Job a couple of mornings ago, and I came across the references to mining in Chapter 28. Mining? Yup. This chapter likens wisdom to gold and silver, says it is more valuable than rubies, and basically makes the point that it is worth any amount of deep and difficult digging to get to it.

I spent a few of my younger years working in a large open-cut mine in North Queensland, and I know what miners go through to get something of value out of the ground. It is dirty, slogging, arduous and often dangerous work.

As so often happens, by an odd "God-incidence," the morning I read the "mining" chapter in Job, I happened to flick on the Discovery Channel on TV just in time to catch a whole program on gold mining. It talked about the mighty open cut mines in Australia, and the deep shaft mines in South Africa, where it takes miners 10 minutes just to get to the bottom of the shaft by fast elevator, and then travel by rail for miles underground in conditions of unbelievable heat and dust and noise.

So it is only worth mining for something very valuable—and Job makes the point that wisdom is the one thing that's worth digging very, very deep for. This is how he puts it:

"There is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined ... 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 ... he dangles and sways.

"The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire; sapphires come from the rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.

"He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures. He searches the sources of the rivers, and brings hidden things to light.

"But where can WISDOM be found? ... The price of WISDOM is beyond rubies ... it cannot be bought with pure gold.

"Where then does WISDOM come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing.

"God understands the way to it, and He alone knows where it dwells ... 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 28:1, 10-28).

Ask In Faith

James says that if we want wisdom, we have only to ask God for it. But we must ask in faith, having not the slightest doubt (James 1:5-6). And that is where the mining analogy is so apt!

We can walk into any jewelry store and see mounds of gold and silver, and it all looks so alluring; so easy to just reach out and grab. But if we do, we will find out very quickly that there are consequences.

Wisdom is like that. It seems so attainable, so easy to grab. Yet, when we do try to grab it, we discover that it comes at a cost. The cost is in the currency of faith—understanding that wisdom comes through the reverential and awesome fear of a holy and righteous God.

If it means digging deep through our own inner resources, like Job "tunneling through the rock" and "searching the farthest recesses ... in the blackest darkness," then so be it if that is what it takes to come out into the bright light of day with "nuggets" of God's wisdom.

"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion ... counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

"By me, kings reign ... I love those who love me, and those who seek me, find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life, and receives favour from the Lord" (Prov. 8:12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 34, 35).

Worth digging deep for? By mining deep for God's wisdom, you will also enter into His favor. And with God's favor in your life, nothing is impossible.

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31).