Treasure Hunt
What are you willing to give up to get what you most desire? We are all hunting for treasure. The question is whether what you seek is what you need.
“Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock. This is the account of the family line of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.”
Genesis 36:7, 9, 24
Both Jacob and Esau prospered greatly as the Lord provided for them as He promised He would. But, at what cost? What did prospering cost the brothers? Their relationship and ability to be together. We read quickly over this, but was it worth it?
What do you desire most? Most people desire to make thirty percent more than they currently do. Does pursuing wealth bring meaning and satisfaction? Money is important, but it is a tool, not the treasure of the soul.
“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!...For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”
Psalms 36:5-9
David praises the priceless value of God's unfailing love. What price do you put on His love, grace, and presence? Do you value it above spending time on your phone, scrolling social media, hoarding assets, and personal achievement? The truth is we put a price on our relationships and how we steward our time, talent, hearts, and treasure says everything about how we value our own salvation.
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong...Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, 10-11, 16, 19-20
Solomon was said to have been the wealthiest, wisest man of his time. What advice does he give to others who have not had the same material success? He says it is meaningless. Deep down we know he is right. Picture the greatest moments of joy you have experienced. Were any of them something you bought or were they all moments you shared? How could recognizing what is meaningful shape how we choose to live?
“Tell Hezekiah: “This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?...On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar”?
Isaiah 36:4-5, 7, 16
The question the king asks is one worthy of consideration. On what are you basing the confidence you have? Do we build our lives on the foundation of the confidence we have in Christ or in what we accumulate? Do we live for God or for ourselves? There is a right answer.
“On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
Mark 8:1-8, 18-25, 27-29, 34-36
What does Jesus say and what does He not say? He doesn't say do whatever makes you happy or you feel like doing. He does not say make as much money as you can and don't worry following me is free. People have a tendency to cheapen grace and ignore the cost of following Jesus. The way to life is narrow and always involves sacrifice.
Jesus says He is the Messiah and should be the Lord of your life. He wants to be the one who leads, directs, and has final authority over how you live. He wants to set good expectations. He says look at what I am giving up and you should expect to do the same. He does promise eternal treasure and He will guide us to it if we are willing to follow. How does He want to change your life today? How does He want to teach you the importance of humility and the value of taking up your cross each day so that you will find treasure beyond your imagination? We are all pursuing something, His hope is that we pursue what lasts.