The Noble Prize

How would you like to win “The Noble Prize”? No, not “The Nobel Prize” but “The Noble Prize.” What is it? It is NOT a prize awarded in the field of science, literature or humanitarian endeavor. It is, however, a worthy prize and one that we must pursue.

Acts 17:1-9 tells of Paul and Silas’ preaching the gospel of Christ at Thessalonica. Some believed the message, but many did not. Those who disbelieved caused quite a commotion. However, at the next city, Berea, Paul and Silas saw a completely different attitude among the people. Acts 17:11 says of the Bereans, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Why were the Bereans called “noble”? They received the word with “all readiness of mind” AND “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The Bereans were not a group of religious people who just accepted anything a preacher “put out”; instead, they evaluated the validity of every teaching they heard by comparing it to the Word of God. They were on guard against false teaching, and they wanted to make certain to accept only the truth. They were a noble audience because they were an examining audience.

The Bereans were striving to obtain a noble prize (cf. Jn 5:39; Matt 19:21; Heb 11:16). Do we have such a noble objective in life? Are we willing to search the Scriptures to make sure that what we are being taught is indeed the truth? Let us all seek the NOBLE PRIZE in this manner.

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