Peanuts and the Word of God

A peanut is technically a bean, but it is different from other beans. Whereas most other beans bear fruit above ground, the peanut grows under the ground. If someone altogether unfamiliar with peanuts and their growth process planted some, he might not think that it would amount to much at first. He might think it a waste of time to even bother cultivating them. He might think peanuts aren't worth the trouble. After all, it doesn't appear to be doing anything substantial, he would think. I just see a bunch of green leaves, but no beans. What he doesn't know is that a lot is happening underneath that soil, out of sight, and that there is indeed something substantial there.

So it is with the Word of God. Many people read the Bible and fail to see it in all its beauty. All they see is what seem to be leaves. They think it is of no greater value to them than any other book. This is because they do not take the time to honestly and earnestly dig beneath the surface; they do not take time to humbly and perseveringly penetrate the top soil, as it were. If they did, they would find something of inestimable worth--something worth more than anything they could imagine. The Word tells us that "the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom" (Job 28:28); and of wisdom it is written that, "all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it" (Proverbs 8:11). It is even worth more than gold, silver, or rubies (Psalm 19:10; Psalm 119:72; Proverbs 3:15).

Yet, again we see that to find it we must humbly and diligently seek it. "My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5, emphasis supplied). It is only as we receive the Word, only as we listen and seek to apply what we learn, it is only as we cry, seek, and search for its treasures, that we will be rewarded. A disinterested, half-hearted attempt will not yield us anything.

Rather than being of no use, peanuts are one of the most useful beans. They are over fifty ways to utilize this legume. If we seek to truly know the Bible, we will find that it has more uses than the peanut--an answer for every question, a solution to every perplexity, a remedy for every ailment. May we seek to become more acquainted with this wonderful Book.

Blessings,
Jean