Treasure

Treasure

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” 
Matthew 13:44-46
Unfortunately many people in the world today particularly in North America are failing to see that the Bible and Jesus are indeed treasures of great price.
They see a material world only. Their only goal in life is to gather as many toys as they can before they die.
I once heard a very rich businessman say “the pursuit of wealth is the most noble of pursuits one can do in this life.”
He dose not believe in anything beyond this life.
My brother an atheist is fond of saying “the one who has all the toys at the end of life is the winner.”
Trouble is at the end of life the toys go to someone else. Materialism is ultimately useless as we come into this world with nothing materially and cannot take any of our material possessions with us.
Ask the Egyptian Pharaoh’s. They were buried with riches but the riches remained in this world while they are long gone to stand before God.
Take a look at particularly the rock stars over the years who have had fame and fortune only to die by their own hand in hopelessness.
A minister friend of mine many years ago sat at the bedside of a very rich man. He’d spent a lifetime accumulating wealth and little else.
He told my friend that while he admitted he liked the fun of acquiring the wealth, it meant nothing to him now as he prepared to enter eternity.
He only wished he’d got to know Christ sooner.
Materialism and for that matter atheism is in the end an empty cup.
The author of Ecclesiastes states,
“ I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
                  Ecclesiastes 1:14
The book of Ecclesiastes concludes with,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
Ecclesiastes12:13,14
There is an old saying that still rings true. “Only one life will soon be past only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Where will you be at the end of your life? Will you stand before God as a pauper and here him say I never knew you, or will he welcome you as his child? The child of a king with all the rights there of.
Think about it.