When I was a kid, my mom used to read us stories from a big yellow book called Curious George. It told the escapades of a little monkey (George) and his owner, the Man in the Yellow Hat. George’s curiosity often landed him in trouble, and he always needed to be rescued from the mess he inevitably wound up in. I guess those stories resonated with me because I am a curious person by nature. I just like to know stuff and see how things work. When I was a toddler, my mom caught me trying to flush her pewter candlesticks down the toilet, just because I was curious if it would work.
It’s interesting how curiosity is often linked with mischief. It makes it seem as if it should be discouraged. But is that really true? Is curiosity something that we should shy away from? Don’t get me wrong, there are times when curiosity leads us to sin (think Adam and Eve in the Garden). However, I believe Scripture makes it clear that there is such a thing as godly curiosity. Godly curiosity that is targeted at God’s Word is commendable and should be pursued. Let me show you what I mean. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 25:2,
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2 LSB)
In this brief Proverb, Solomon states that it is the glory of God to conceal things. Since He is the Creator of all things, He is entitled to dictate what He reveals or doesn’t reveal to mankind. We know that there are mysteries about the universe that we may never understand. God is infinite, and our finite human minds cannot grasp His depth. However, that is not an excuse for not pursuing understanding. Solomon continues by saying the glory of kings is to search things out. Kings were to weigh the wisdom of God as they led the nation they were ruling over. True wisdom in this case was dependence on God, as He knows all that has been concealed.
Now I am not a king, and neither are you, so why on earth would I talk about a verse that refers to kings? I believe the principle given here is applicable to us all. The bottom line of the Proverb is that God has placed before mankind mysteries, but good and wise kings would seek to understand the wisdom of God as they ruled their kingdom. For us, we have the same responsibility to seek to understand the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2; 3:15–16; 2 Timothy 2:15).
So if we are responsible for studying the Word and defending it, my challenge for us this week is: Do you possess the godly curiosity, desire, and discipline to do the hard work? Do you actually want to search these things out? Do you desire to study diligently to understand what God has said? Do you want to know God on a deeper level? If you do, I promise it will be of great benefit to you. You will expand your understanding of who God is, what He has done, what He will do, and why He is doing it. You will understand yourself better as you broaden the biblical lens through which to see your sin and your salvation.
Most importantly, a diligent study of Scripture points you to Christ when you most need Him. When you study the Bible, you are face-to-face with the living God. Your relationship with Him will strengthen. Your love for Him will deepen. When life is dark and seemingly hopeless, there is light found in the Word. Run to the pages of Scripture and find grace, mercy, and care from the Good Shepherd when you need it. Charles Spurgeon famously said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
My conviction is that there is nothing more needed in the Christian life than a fervent pursuit of studying God’s Word, and a healthy curiosity about what Scripture teaches will only help in that pursuit.
For the Master,
Pastor Matt Shields