True Treasures

Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

We were blessed to spend some time with one of our younger grandbabies yesterday while out of town on business. Isaiah is two and a half years old and so full of life and curiosity! He is an open vessel which will take in any and everything around him — like an empty treasure chest. He’s parents and those that love him have the opportunity to fill him with all the treasures of the Lord. If we don’t fill it with good things now, he will later seek to fill his empty chest with the treasures of the world. But if we are faithful to fill his treasure chest with holiness, righteousness, joy, peace and all the good things of the Lord, he’ll not only be full but he will later know what is of real value in his life. This is our challenge as parents and grandparents.

As believers, we all share this challenge — to train and disciple the young –whether they are children, new believers in the Lord or those yet to know Him. They are each empty treasure chests, just waiting to be filled with God’s goodness, and we have a responsibility to help fill them. Just as the disciples in Jesus’ day left all that they had to go and make disciples of men, so should we make ourselves available to train up and teach those new open vessels God brings our way.

As I pondered this, it occurred to me we have the precious treasure of time measured out in daily increments. Each day we can add to or take away from our ‘bounty’ of time. There are the non-negotiable issues of caring for our family that require pieces of our treasured time. God addresses the caring of our families, our work, but how are we adding to or taking away from our personal treasure chest? Are we filling it with pursuits of personal gain, hobbies, sleep, sports, TV, or internet? Are we an open vessel in which God can pour more of His will, His desires for us or have we filled our chest with worldly pursuits of our own till there is no more room or time? We can even get so busy in doing ‘good’ things we forget to leave room for God’s ‘best’ things.  

But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Salvation and His righteousness are treasures indeed! They are not, however, treasures we keep tucked away in our personal treasure chest. They are treasures we are to share; treasures we are commissioned by Jesus to take to the ends of the earth. Treasures that multiply when shared.

As we step out in building a mission team, we often hear how people do not think they have the time to go and spread that treasure. This isn’t new, Jesus talked about it:

Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

I want to remain an open vessel with ample room for God to pour in all He wants me to have. I want my treasure of salvation and His righteousness to pour out on all in which I come in contact. I want to share my bounty and see it multiply. I need to de-clutter my time treasure chest of my earthly things and lift my eyes to the heavens in anticipation. I can not share what I do not possess.