Finding The Gold

The book of Proverbs contains a lot of wisdom that applies to many areas of life. Proverbs 11:27 says, "Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

It's so easy to find a million flaws in someone, or to find reasons to dislike someone. It's easy to disagree with someone, or put someone down. It's so easy to encounter someone who speaks another language, is from another country, has different beliefs, or has a different opinion than we do and dislike them, or not even want to be around them. What we should be doing though is the opposite of that.

God created us to love. God created us to have value, and to look for good in others. Trying to see the good in others, trying to recognize assets rather than flaws, trying to see that everyone has gifts, rather than look at what someone can't do, or won't do; those are all things we should be doing. But isn't it easier to point out the negative, or form the wrong opinion of someone? Wouldn't we rather find the dirt? Wouldn't we rather stick to who makes us comfortable, and who has gold that we prefer? Isn't it easier to ignore people with dirt we don't like, or that does not fit in with what we believe or feel? That might all be easier, and that is a lot of what goes in the world today. But it's not what God intended for us, and it's not what we should be doing. Maybe if we sought out gold instead of dirt, we might be richer, and the world might be a better and more peaceful place. Maybe if we agreed more, and did not look at others differently, there would be less violence, and more of God.

So be someone who wants to be rich. Be someone who is always searching for gold.