Where is your treasure?

In my Inbox, this morning, I received a link to a video-clip that asked the question in the heading to this post. It's an important question. Various places are chosen for the protection of what we consider to be valuable - be that cash; jewels; special memorabilia; or important documents . Many people, I believe, have a safety deposit box in the vault of a bank. Some have a secret hiding-place within their own homes. Others may use a false breakfast cereal box, or can of baked beans.

I was reminded of the story of one saint of God - by the way, that does not mean that the gentleman in question had been 'canonised' by one particular denomination, having already died, and having had a sufficient number of miracles attributed to him! Biblically, a 'saint' is simply a disciple of the Lord Jesus - had something far more secure than any of the above, for his treasure! Nearing the time of his mortal death, he asked a visiting friend: "Will you bring me my Strong Box, please? Since I am very rich, I would like to look again at some of my most valuable documents." The visitor hesitated, wondering if the elderly man's mind was wandering. However, the man was quick to respond. "It's bound in leather, lying there on the table." The visitor looked, and saw a leather-bound Bible, which he brought to the old man.

The man leafed through it with much delight, enumerating some of its contents:

First document - my great Gift: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16);

Second document - my present Possession: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24);

Third document - my life insurance: "Jesus said ..., “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26);

Fourth document - my accident policy: "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are 'the called' according to His purpose." (Rom.8:28);

Fifth document - my fire insurance: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to His promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (II Peter 3:10-13);

Sixth document - my identification papers: "Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (I John 3:2).

"Yes," exclaimed the dying man, "all of my treasures are in safe-keeping."

The believer's Bible is, indeed, a "Strong Box", filled with many valuable documents  and other items. There is no danger of it being broken into and anything stolen from it. Promises backed by the Sovereign God "... who never lies ..." (Tit.1:2) are guaranteed. Riches of inestimable worth are locked in this vault of truth. For those who truly believe, what moments of pure delight await when we ponder over its priceless documents! 

Have you taken time, recently, to look at some of the valuables in your own "safe"? 

And, now, the video that set this particular train of thought in motion.

Contentment.

It was the apostle Paul who wrote "... I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content." (Phil 4:11).  But what is contentment?  Paul was not writing from some sun-drenched beach, with the waves breaking gently on the sand, and with a cool drink in his hand.  He was writing from a position of 'house arrest' - in rented accommodation, but with chains holding him to a Roman soldier.  He knew that his 'case' might soon be heard.  He knew that he might be acquitted.  He also knew that he could be beheaded - and that, in fact, is what happened.  Yet he can testify to being "content"!

The secret of that contentment was, of course, that he had found his total satisfaction in God. Regardless of the circumstances in which he found himself, his deep inner peace, and his assurance of the Lord's presence, were unshaken.   He knew, from personal experience, the truth of the words that he later wrote to the young pastor, Timothy, his 'son in the faith' (see I Tim.1:18; II Tim.2:1) - "There is great gain in godliness with contentment;" (I Tim 6:6) or, as another version translates the original Greek language: "... godliness accompanied with contentment - that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency - is great and abundant gain." (The Amplified Bible).  That inward sufficiency; that soul-sufficiency; is found only in the Lord Jesus, the Christ.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that that they will be able to find contentment in material things, and in financial riches.  The story is told of a wealthy employer who once heard one of his employees exclaim: "Oh, if only I had £100 I would be perfectly content!"  Knowing that his own great wealth had not given him this inner peace, he told her: "Since I would like to see someone who is perfectly contented, I am going to fulfil your desire."  He gave her the £100 and left but, even before he was out of earshot, he heard her remark, with more than a shade of bitterness, "Why on earth didn't I say £200?"!  The employer smiled.  He had made his point that money doesn't make a person "perfectly contented"!

In the past year or so, there seem to have been an inordinate number of 'celebrity' deaths - quite a few in just the past couple of months.  Some, like Victoria Wood, have died of cancer and, if reports are accurate, with dignity.  But others have died in more suspicious circumstances and, in a number of cases, narcotics of one sort or another have been involved.  These were people who appeared to have "had it made".  But neither fame nor fortune bring real satisfaction.  Decades ago, indeed, that was the 'complaint' sung by the group The Rolling Stones - with the 'rubbery-lipped' Mick Jagger - "I can't find no satisfaction".  I'll ignore the double negative - I know what they were singing.  

Of course, one doesn't have to be a 'celebrity' to be wealthy, and wealth is not the only method of measurement.  There are many highly-cultured, well-educated, people who are far from happy! there many who are wealthy, and even enjoy good health (something that cannot be purchased!) who are, nevertheless, dissatisfied. On the other hand, there are many who enjoy few (if any!) luxuries, and who may even suffer from debilitating health issues yet who, almost physically, radiate joy!  

How can this be?  I would contend that true happiness is not something that the world can give - although it tries to fob us off with imitations.  Soul-sufficiency; true contentment; deep joy; that is not dependant upon our situation or circumstances, is found only in the Lord Jesus, Who said, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11).

True contentment will never be yours until you give Him first place in your life.