Treasure! As a boy we played the treasure game

Luke 12:14 (NIV)

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

Placing something of nominal value in the ground and then developing a game around it. Like many in our day, we grew up poor. Our imagination was the richest item we possessed. We had watched the black-and-white pirate movies and were captivated with their search for treasure. In time, though, our generation supposedly grew up. What did we do? Treasures in the back yard became cars, houses, jobs, hobbies, and bank accounts. And now… What do you treasure? What do you deeply value? Perhaps it would be beneficial to list (in order) the ten items you think you value most. Then tomorrow take a fresh look at that list and ask yourself if your life revolves around those ten items. (We spend the most time with the items we truly value.) Then on the next day take another look at the list and ask yourself how those ten items rank as judged by eternity. The Apostle Paul cautioned “we can take nothing out of this world when we die” (2 Timothy 6:7). Therefore, do I build my life around items that will not last or will last? Perhaps reading about Jesus might open our eyes to what truly matters.

Tom Swartzwelder was born again at the age of nine in an old-fashioned revival meeting. Tom received his B.A. from Tennessee Temple University and his M. Div from Luther Rice Seminary. He has pastored for nearly forty years in both bi-vocational and full-time roles. He provides practical how-to-do-ministry resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ. Tom’s latest book is “God Speaks–Today!”