TRUE
TREASURES
BREAD
18 Then
I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find
satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life
God has given him--for this is his lot. 19 Moreover,
when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them,
to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God. 20 He
seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with
gladness of heart. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
(NIV)
17 Every
good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the
heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)
9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a
snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven
give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to
you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew
7:9-12 (NIV)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth
and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.” Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
9 Lowborn
men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they
are nothing; together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen
goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Psalms 62:9-10 (NIV)
14 I
rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. Psalms 119:14 (NIV)
13 Blessed
is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for
she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire
can compare with her. 16 Long
life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her
ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those
who lay hold of her will be blessed.
Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)
7 The
law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the
heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The
fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By
them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19:7-11 (NIV)
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not
understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the
man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When
trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is
the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness
of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is
the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a
hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV)
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the
matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.
14 For
God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether
it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes
12:13-14 (NIV)
15 “He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 11:15 (NIV)
BUTTER
“There was a majesty in the early
saints, who dared to do at God's command things that human reason would
condemn. Whether it be a Noah who is to
build a ship on dry land, an Abraham who is to offer up his only son, a Moses
who is to despise the treasures of Egypt, or a Joshua who is to besiege Jericho
for seven days, using no weapons but the blasts of trumpets, they all act upon
God's command, contrary to the dictates of human reason; and the Lord gives
them a rich reward as the result of their obedient faith. Would to God we had
in contemporary Christianity a more potent infusion of this heroic faith in
God. If we would venture more upon the naked promise of God, we would enter a
world of wonders to which as yet we are strangers.” C. H. Spurgeon revised by Alistair Begg
“Do we entertain
Christ to our loss? Doth he come empty? No; he comes with all grace. His
goodness is a communicative, diffusive goodness. He comes to spread his
treasures, to enrich the heart with all grace and strength, to bear all afflictions,
to encounter all dangers, to bring peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
He comes, indeed, to make our hearts, as it were, a heaven.” Richard Sibbes
“The
treasures of most men are perishing, earthly, cankered and moth-eaten treasures. Where is yours, O Christian? Is it in the world, or the next? Is it in present vanities, or future glory? Is it in present contentments, or in an
everlasting inheritance? Is it in corn
and wine or in the light of God’s countenance?
Is it in profits, pleasures, and honours, or in grace and glory? Do you build, plant, and sow for heaven? Many profess the hope of heaven, but
meanwhile in their conversations they savour only earthly things. If a man’s profession is ever so heavenly,
but he is overtaken by earthly living, that man’s religion is vain. Never talk of a name in heaven, as long as
your heart is buried in the earth.”
Matthew Mead
“Are we bored with it? Oh, boredom! That plague of our finite, fallen,
self-oriented flesh that so easily loses appreciation for the most precious
treasures simply when they become familiar! Forgive us, Father, and hasten the
day when we lose our amazing capacity for boredom and gain an amazing capacity
for sustained amazement! If
the Bible has grown boring to you, fight
it! Remember what makes it marvelous and marvel again. Look at it again,
and take time to look. If it bores
you, that’s when you really need to keep looking. Look until the peculiar glory begins to
shine again, until you don’t want to stop looking. For those who see this glory
just never get to the bottom of it.”
Jon Bloom
“God alone knows
the depth and riches of His Godhead, and divine wisdom alone can declare His secrets.” Thomas Aquinas
“God is ever giving to His children, yet
hath not the less. His riches are
imparted, not impaired.” Thomas Watson
“Our
satisfaction and contentment in life does not come from riches but from
righteousness.” Robert J. Morgan
“Each idol you are willing to destroy, you will
gain far more than you lose. Each time you surrender something to God, you will
remove another hindrance to a productive life of faith and prayer. Every idol
that is demolished will bring you new treasures of grace and peace.” Michael
Youssef
“Strive
believer not to seek refuge in anything or anyone besides the Lord our
God. All else will surely be found
wanting. It is He Who is the Rock that
is greater than all. It is He Who is sufficient to meet our every need. It is He Who gives our feet a firm place to
stand when the winds of life blow hard.
Look to Jesus alone – all else is fleeting. Why go to the paste gem when the diamond is
so readily offered?” BHY
“God is the only source of true happiness, because He offers
those intangibles that we mistakenly believe can be found on earth: contentment, security, peace, and hope for
the future. None of these can be found
in a job, a human relationship, money, power, or position. They are God’s alone to give…The Lord Jesus,
in His Sermon on the Mount, told where ultimate happiness lies: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). This is God’s promise – and it is true. Riches…or righteousness? Which is your goal?” Billy Graham
HEART SAVOR
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God’s treasures are lasting.
In Him are true riches – the diamond instead of the paste gem.
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Every good and perfect gift comes from above.
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God’s Word is more precious than gold.
