Finding your gold mine
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We are often unaware of the gold mines all around us. They belong to us, but we walk right past them each day. If we are unaware of their existence or make no effort to obtain the treasure they hold, then they are of no value to us.
These mines possess deposits that are far more valuable than minerals. They contain our experiences. When we mine our experiences, we discover great deposits of wisdom.
Solomon, the wealthiest person of his day, declared, "Happy is the man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her" (Prov. 3:13-14).
Merely having experiences won't make you wise. Reflecting on them will. Everyone has experiences, but far fewer people have wisdom.
Through the years, I have met many people who seemed to be indifferent to the treasure their experiences hold.
One woman who had been fired by four employers concluded that those companies were all sexist! A pastor who had been let go by four congregations simply assumed he never got any "good" churches.
A man who had more than a dozen broken or frayed relationships complained that everyone he knew was a jerk.
Needless to say, those people never changed. Their circumstances didn't improve. They continued to experience the same disappointing, unfulfilled life.
Many people look at their symptoms but never dig deep enough to discover the root causes. It's always easier to blame others for our misfortune than to search for the underlying problems.
It can be painful to look at ourselves in a mirror. We may not like what we see. Yet the greatest leaders in history have been those who clearly perceived the reality of their situation and responded accordingly.
Every person needs to go mining, an exercise my dad referred to as "processing." He kept journals in which he reflected on what was happening around him and what God was telling him. When opportunities came his way or people disappointed him, he would seek understanding. He would ask God for wisdom. Then he would adjust his beliefs and ways.
If the same problems repeatedly crop up in your life, let God show you the reasons. If God isn't opening doors or granting you success, ask him why. If you are experiencing broken relationships, let God reveal to you his perspective. We can obtain a great deal of wisdom if we mine for it.
Some nuggets of wisdom can be found lying on the ground in easy reach, while others can only be gained through much effort. But from that effort comes great reward.
You might be surprised by how much treasure is close at hand. Slow down. Look around. Reflect. Grasp the wisdom available to you. You will be far richer as a result.
 | Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More » |
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