Today's Daily Bread
Panning For Gold
While on vacation in Alaska, we visited the El Dorado Gold Mine
near Fairbanks. After a tour and demonstrations of mining techniques
during Gold Rush days, we got to do a little panning for gold. Each
person was given a pan and a bag of dirt and stones. After pouring the
contents into the pan, we added water from a trough and swirled it
around to stir up the silt and allow the gold, which is heavy, to sink
to the bottom. Even though we had watched experts, we made little
progress. The reason? Concerned about discarding something of value, we
were unwilling to throw away worthless stones.
This reminded me of how possessions sometimes keep us from finding
what is truly valuable. Jesus had an encounter with a rich man for whom
this was true. His earthly wealth was more important to him than
spiritual treasure (Luke 18:18-30). Jesus said,
“How hard it is for
those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (v.24).
Although money is not evil, it can prevent us from inheriting true
riches if accumulating it is the goal of our lives. To hoard wealth is
foolish, for it is genuine faith, not gold, that will sustain us through
trials and result in praise, honor, and glory to God (1 Peter 1:7).
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hands. —Miller
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hands. —Miller
Keep your eyes on Jesus so you don’t allow earthly riches to blind you to spiritual riches.
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