Worth More Than Everything

Jesus said the man who found the treasure sold everything “for joy over it” (Matthew 13:44). All through the Bible, people who see how great God is are filled with joy, and they gladly put Him first. Here are some of them.

The wise men. The wise men came from far away to find the King. When they saw the star again, “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” (Matthew 2:10).

They opened their treasures. “And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). They gave their treasures because they had found a far greater one: Jesus Himself.

Abraham was called. Long before, God spoke to Abraham, who was then called Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).

Abraham went. “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him” (Genesis 12:4). He left his home, his town and most of his relatives. “He went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

What Abraham looked for. Abraham lived in tents for the rest of his life. He was waiting “for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Foundations are the strong base under a building. God's home lasts forever.

A blessing for everyone. God promised Abraham, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). That promise came true in Jesus, who was born from Abraham's family.

David's one thing. King David had a palace, an army and great riches. Yet he wrote, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek” (Psalm 27:4). His greatest wish was to be near God.

The beauty of the Lord. David wanted “to behold the beauty of the Lord” (Psalm 27:4). Behold means to look at. David loved God more than everything he owned.

Joy forever. “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Fullness of joy means joy that is full to the top.

Joy and fun. Fun lasts for an afternoon. The joy God gives stays even on hard days, because it comes from knowing Him, not from what is happening around you.

What we learn. When people really see God, they do not feel that they are losing out. They feel that they have found something better than anything else in the world.

What to do. This week, tell Jesus one reason you are glad you know Him. If you do not know Him yet, ask Him to show you how good He is.

Following Jesus sometimes means giving things up. The Bible shows that people who give things up for God never come out behind.

A farmer at work. Elisha was plowing a field with many oxen when the prophet Elijah walked by. Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha. That meant God was calling Elisha to follow him and serve God (1 Kings 19:19).

Saying goodbye. Elisha ran after Elijah. He asked to kiss his father and mother goodbye first, and then he would follow (1 Kings 19:20).

No going back. Elisha killed the oxen he had been plowing with. He used the wood of the plow to cook the meat, and he gave it to the people to eat. Then he followed Elijah and served him (1 Kings 19:21).

A glad goodbye. Elisha did not keep his oxen just in case. He turned his old work into a meal for others and gave himself to God's work.

Moses chose. Moses grew up in Pharaoh's palace. Yet he chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25). Passing means they would not last.

Greater riches. Moses esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). Esteemed means valued. Reproach means being looked down on.

A hundred times more. Jesus promised that anyone who has left “house or brothers or sisters or father or mother” for His sake will receive “a hundredfold now in this time” and “in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

An honest promise. In the same promise Jesus said “with persecutions” (Mark 10:30). Following Him is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Two masters. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Mammon means money and riches. Only one can be first.

Every day. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Putting Jesus first is something we do every day.

Jesus gave the most. No one gave up more than Jesus. He left heaven, and “for the joy that was set before Him” He “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2).

Not to earn. We never give things up to earn God's love. “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). We follow Jesus because He loved us first.

What to do. Think of one thing that is hard to put second to Jesus. Talk to Him about it, and ask Him to be first in your heart.