Where is your treasure?

Maybe an even more important question is, what is your treasure? We all have those things that we value most in life. Sometimes we stash them away in a bank lot box, sometimes cleverly hidden in our homes. But what do we treasure? I’m afraid way too often we treasure the wrong things.
There is nothing wrong with acquiring financial wealth. One of Christ’s best friends while on earth was a very rich man, Lazarus. His wealth did not keep him from being dear to Jesus heart. The important distinction is to know that it was not because of his wealth, that Jesus loved him.

No matter how successful you become and how much wealth you amass, that will not be why you are loved. Many years ago, I had the honor of interviewing the late, great, Paul “Bear” Bryant for a magazine article. The legendary coach was everything you would have expected him to be. At the end of the interview I had a favorite question that I asked many famous people, I thought the way it was answered revealed a great deal about the person being interviewed. The question was simple, “How would you like to be remembered?” Coach Bryant gave a wonderful answer, “The people of football, the other coaches, and players, and my own players have all been wonderful friends to me, I hope that I will be remembered as half as good a friend to them, as they have been to me.”

That answer reveals a lot. Many people think of themselves as legends, Bear Bryant surely was, and still is! Coach Bryant’s accomplishments were considerable, but his emphasis was on others not himself and his accomplishments. I would like to believe that’s exactly why he was so successful, his life was directed outwardly

Coach Bryant was like a lot of successful people in that he amassed a great deal of personal wealth, but what he valued most was relationships. Money is fine, someone once said, money can’t bring you happiness, but it can sure make you a lot more comfortable in your misery. I’m sure that’s true, I’m even more sure that what does bring happiness is loving, and being loved.

God is love. Read that again, God IS love. It doesn’t say, God Loves, it says He “is” love. The love that God has for us is well beyond our comprehension. His love is far greater and deeper than we can understand. Now listen carefully, you’re about to find out just how wealthy you really are…… If love is the greatest of all the gifts, if Love is far more important than money or gold, then
those that have the most love are the most wealthy. Well, God loves you with a love far greater than any other. Since you posses this love, you have the most valuable thing in existence.

Now, how much does your family love you? How much do your friends love you? How many acquaintances have a real love and respect for you? The most important question is, how much do you love and show your love for them? The answer to the last question will determine the answer to the first three………..

the pilgrim

*Photo note: Antique National cash register, photographed in a store in Sante Fe, NM. Nikon D2x camera with the Nikkor 70-200 AFS VR lens set at F8.