We were on a mission.
We had changed into our “play clothes.” We had our plastic shovel and bucket in hand. Time to get down to serious business.
We were going treasure hunting.
“Treasure hunting” was one of my sister and I’s favorite activities when we were younger. In fact, it ranks right up there with tormenting each other. Specifically: me convincing her that the flower blooms on our bushes where actually “wild broccoli,” thus she should consume them for nutritional reasons, as well as daring her lick the frozen iron handrail on the front porch as the school bus came down the driveway. (Both instances resulted in the first two times I got grounded. Ah, memories.)
But seriously. Treasure hunting was one of our most beloved shared experiences. I was secretly convinced that at any given moment of walking, digging and exploring, we would have a “Huck Finn” moment and discover a chest filled with coins and riches beyond our wildest imagination.
Most of the time, however, our treasures would come in a different form. And we always had to share them with Mama.
After our journey, my sister and I would trudge home with our loot… and dump it on the back porch for Mama’s amazement annoyance. Or better yet, we might just dump it in the front yard so the lawn mower could rediscover it in a few days when Daddy mowed the grass… (Which in turn lead to me rediscovering the fun of being grounded. Notice a pattern here? I was such a sweet child.)
Our treasures typically included rusted, ancient farm equipment, nails, cool looking rocks, fossils, weird looking bugs and the occasional orphaned animal (Primarily: baby rabbits and baby birds. Although I once got bitten by a chipmunk. But in my defense, I didn’t expect to actually catch it.)
Over the last couple of decades, our idea of treasure has changed quite a bit. The first (and only) time I got a real diamond was my engagement ring. I treasure the security of that constant military paycheck. I treasure my warm house, decent clothes, and ever plenty food supply.
But in the grand scheme of things, those “treasures” are equivalent to the rusted farm equipment and random rocks. Because we can find our true treasure in relationship. Relationship with our spouse. Relationship with one another. Relationship with our family. And most of all, relationship with our God.
I have been treasure hunting with and for Jesus for nearly three decades. Every day, I discover something new and exciting in my relationship with Him. We are on a treasure hunt, one that gives us more riches and rewards than our 7-year-old hearts would have ever dreamt possible when hauling that plastic shovel and bucket.
Where does your treasure lie? Is your heart set on things of this world, or are you on a constant treasure hunt to deepen your relationship with Christ?
What do you treasure most about Jesus? I would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment here… and share your Jesus treasure hunting discoveries.
Hitting the Jackpot with Jesus,
SGK
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
