As a teacher, I am keenly aware that repetition plays an important role in learning. Lately, God – the ultimate Teacher – has been dropping some lessons on “treasure” in my life. Here’s a short recap of my own personal treasure hunt with the Lord.
It all started with a group of my students. Normally, teachers are the ones inspiring the students, but every so often the students are the ones inspiring the teachers. This reverse inspiration happened to me recently as I was blessed with a group of students who showed great work ethic, a love of learning, creativity, passion, attentiveness, responsiveness, and optimism. Several students asked a ton of questions and were so inquisitive that it made me dive into the subject at hand more than I ever would have without the questions. I, in turn, learned more and was inspired to create and ask more questions myself. It made me approach my lessons differently and with a newfound love. I couldn’t wait to get to class because it felt like they couldn’t wait to get to class. I tried to think of new and fun ways to learn and create ways my students could engage with the content and apply it to their life. That led to my own creativity increasing and a desire to be a better version of myself. My creative and curious self had been re-awakened! I started doing things I had stopped doing as a kid or young adult; I started caring again about what I put into my body – both physically and mentally. It led to new and better relationships and a zeal for life that had grown stale over time. It was such a precious gift that I thought of these students as a real treasure.
Then as the months went by, I kept coming across Bible verses about treasure. Each time, I was reminded of the sensation of awe, wonder, and excitement I had received from my students and began to apply that to my faith and walk with the Lord. Here are just a few that stood out as God repeated His lesson to me:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44
“…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3 (The verse behind “Intertwined” – see home page!)
“If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5
But then there were also verses that surfaced, warning of earthly treasure:
“Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.” Proverbs 15:16
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
That last line is the kicker – where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. So what kind of treasures have I been collecting and where is my heart? I want a heart like David’s, a heart after the Lord. A heart that treasures wisdom and heaven and the love and power of God. He is the ultimate author of knowledge, insight, love, creation, imagination, desire, and so much more. If we would only seek after Him the way we often seek after earthly treasures, then we will have “… far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20b-21
Comment below and share your favorite verse about treasure and what it means to you.
INTERTWINED 