What is of value to you today?

A collector of rare books ran into an acquaintance who told him he had just thrown away an old Bible that he found in a dusty, old box.                     He happened to mention that Guten-somebody-or-other had printed it. "Not Gutenberg?" gasped the collector.  "Yes, that was it!"  "You idiot! You've thrown away one of the first books ever printed.  A copy recently sold at auction for half a million dollars!"  "Oh, I don't think this book would have been worth anything close to that much," replied the man. "It was scribbled all over in the margins by some guy named Martin Luther." 

Sometimes in our ignorance we fail to see the value in something. You see it all the time on those antiques programmes. Somebody buys a vase in a charity shop or a car-boot sale, for a few pence. But the seller had no idea that item was not junk, it had real value. The buyer recognised the name on the vase and understood instantly it would be profitable at auction.  Because the buyer was wise and not ignorant, he prospered.

Spiritually speaking, we are to be wise and not ignorant. To understand the value of eternal things. There are treasures to be found in God’s Word. There are riches to be had as we mine the truth of scripture. There are multiplied blessings that are ours when we seek the Lord.  But many are ignorant of these things. They spend no time searching, meditating, praying or waiting. Consequently, it seems of little or no value to them.  Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus is a treasure trove of spiritual blessings. It is my favourite epistle. Just reading his prayer for the believers in Ephesus, beginning in Ch.1Vs.15, is so enlightening and enriching to the soul.

Another treasure is going to the house of the Lord. Being with God’s people each week and worshipping together is strengthening.  The Psalmist said, “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.”  (Psalm 84:10) N.L.T.  Vs.1-2&4 “How lovely is Your Tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for  the living God. Vs.4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You.” (N.K.J) Selah. (There, think about that)  

So, what do you value today? What have you become wise about? 

- Pastor David Goudy