Treasure

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12

Going through life people will treasure different things and often differently during various times in their life. Some will treasure non-material things such as their family and friends, while others treasure physical things such as their money, house, car and more.

The things that people treasure they will spend their most time, effort and money on to have and keep. Other things will often get forsaken or left aside in order to have what they treasure.

Job said that he did not turn away from God’s commands but treasured the words of God even more than needed food.

One thing that every person needs to survive is food. Without food, one will get weak very quickly and be susceptible to sickness. Given enough time without any food at all, one will die.

Yet as important as food is, there is one thing that is even more important. That one thing is obeying God’s commands. In order to obey God’s commands, one has to first treasure them.

The commands of God have to become extremely important or else one will not be able to even begin to really obey them. As soon as a person does not choose to treasure the commands and word of God, that person will choose to step into sin against God.

Choosing to obey God’s commands must take such a priority in the believer’s life that the believer would be willing to go without the needed food for survival rather than disobeying God. One would rather die, than disobey God’s commands. This is what Jesus was saying when one must take up his cross and follow Him.

You most likely have many different things in your life that you treasure. Many of those things may be good to have and desire. And most likely you enjoy eating food, or at least some types of food.

Although these things may be good and acceptable, what is your greatest treasure in your life? Allow yourself to treasure God’s word and obeying God’s word above everything and anything in your life. Without God and His word, you really have nothing of value. Most everything else will fade away, but God and His word will never depart or fade.

What do you treasure today?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s word and commands to you; that you will treasure God’s word in your heart; that you will live by God’s commands; and that you will seek to obey God’s word over anything else in your life.

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21

It is the desire of many to have great wealth, treasures, along with long life. The golden dream is to have it all with eternal life.

People are willing to go to extreme lengths to get these things. For most people, most often wealth is just out of reach and eternal life is impossible to have on their own working. Yet people still seek both.

A wealthy man asked Jesus how to have eternal life. After saying that he followed the basic ten commandments, Jesus told him he still lacked one thing–to follow Him.

All the religions, that are man-made, have many rules on what to do or not do so that one might gain eternal life after death. People desire to earn their own way to eternal life.

This type of thinking is also common inside the church. Many are going to church, reading the bible, following the ten commandments, giving to the poor, but they are still lacking one thing–they are not following Jesus. These things are done to look good or to earn their way into heaven.

Following Jesus means one will give up his past and own ways of doing things. His focus will be to worship God, to be a witness for Jesus and to make and disciple new believers.

Jesus was all about building God’s kingdom. Too many believers focus on self, rather than upon God’s kingdom. They are not really following Jesus, except in word. Saying one is following Jesus is not the same as actually following Him and doing what He is doing and wants done.

Ask yourself what are you doing to gain eternal life?

Do not give up going to church, reading your bible and worshipping God. If fact, continue to do so even more. But, you must also make sure you are following Jesus. Do what Jesus would do, say what Jesus would say, go where Jesus would go, and be like Him in every area of your life.

As you give up your past and own life to God, He will give you an abundant life that will extend into eternal life.

Are you still lacking one thing? Then get it.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will follow Jesus with all of your life; that you will lack nothing in follow God; and that you will do God’s work on this earth.