MISSING OUT ON A VALUABLE TREASURE
Mike Johnson
“One person’s junk is another person’s treasure.” I am confident that almost everyone has heard that expression. We know that something, which may seem worthless to one person, may be viewed as valuable by another. The popularity of garage sales and flea markets in our country attests to this.
An Associated Press story a few years ago told of a man in Texas who purchased a 1,905-carat sapphire at a gem show for $10.00. How did this happen? The purchaser by-passed the professional dealers and went to an area where the amateur dealers where displaying their merchandise. He found the stone in a box of rock priced at $15.00. He realized that the rock was valuable and inquired about it. The dealer then cut the price to $10.00. The purchase was made. The sapphire was later appraised at $2.28 million.
The above story is amazing. The uncut sapphire probably passed through the hands of many people before it came into the possession of someone who recognized its value. Most people would love to have the opportunity to purchase a sapphire for a fraction of its worth. The problem was that the original owner, and probably many others, did not realize the true value of the stone.
Today, many fail to recognize a treasure even more valuable than sapphires. They have it within their grasps, yet do not realize its worth. That treasure, of course is salvation.
Salvation is much more valuable than any earthly treasure. One reason that salvation is more valuable is that earthly treasures, at most, can only last for our short lifetime. The old expression, “You can’t take it with you,” is certainly true. Note what Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doeth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt. 6:19-20). Another reason salvation is more valuable than earthly treasure is that even in our own lifetime our treasures can lose their value. The above passage reminds us of this. While it is true that a child of God can fall from grace (1 Cor. 10:12; Gal. 5:4), his salvation cannot be taken away by another person unless he allows it. A Christian who falls does so because he chooses to serve the devil instead of God. Perhaps the most important reason salvation is more valuable than earthly treasure is that earthly treasures, by themselves, cannot bring happiness. We often hear about wealthy people who are not happy. Salvation, on the other hand, can bring happiness in this life (note Phil 4:4,10) and in the life to come (Matt. 25:23). This happiness is enduring.
Paul spoke of preaching the gospel in the latter part of First Corinthians 1. He said that the Jews asked for signs, and the Greeks sought after wisdom. The Hews had received many sings (or miracles) by Christ and others. However, they were not satisfied. The Greeks were only interested in the philosophy of this world, not in the preaching of Christ. Consequently, the preaching of Christ crucified was “unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness: (vs. 23). These two groups had access to something very valuable. They heard the preaching of Christ and could have responded by becoming Christians. They could have been saved. Instead, they rejected the preaching of God’s Word, which is described ad “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16) and as that which is “able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Many others, however, who Paul preached to realized the value of the teaching. They viewed Paul’s message of the crucified Christ as God’s power for salvation (1 Cor. 1:24).
The preaching of Christ crucified was incorrectly assessed by the Jews and Greeks. They misjudged its value when they thought it was worthless. They failed to see it for the “treasure” that it was. On the other hand, its proper value was seen by some in Paul’s day and continues to be recognized by those with honest and pure hearts today.
The man who sold the sapphire worth more than two million dollars for $10.00 lost quite a sum of money. However, let us not look down on him. Millions today are doing the same thing, but with something that is much more valuable than any sapphire. They have an opportunity to obey the Word of God and become Christians. Instead, they reject God’s Word and follow their own interests. People who reject God’s Word not only lose out on heaven but are doomed to hell for eternity (Matt. 25:46). Have you recognized the value of salvation?
Copied from the Lifeline, bulletin of the Atwood church of Christ in Atwood TN.
