The treasures God gives us are meant to be stored and shared at the time He chooses. His Word, His presence, and the testimonies of His work in our lives are riches that can strengthen us and draw others to Him.
Jesus said that where your treasure is, your heart will be also. That truth calls us to examine what we value and how we use what God has entrusted to us.
Find Rest in God’s Presence
There is a precious place of fellowship with the Lord when we find a quiet place, close the door, and spend time alone with Him. In that secret place, we can bring our anxious thoughts, judgmental thoughts, and the things that so easily trouble us before Him.
Hebrews 4:11-12 calls us to make every effort to enter God's rest and reminds us that His Word is alive and active. His Word reaches into the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
We can lay those thoughts at His feet and ask Him to wash them with His Word. A life bound up in anxiety and restlessness isn't God's best for us. He invites us into His presence and teaches us to rest in Him.
God’s Treasure in Earthen Vessels
God speaks of hidden riches in secret places so that His people may know that He is the Lord who calls them by name (Isaiah 45:3). He is the One who gives the treasure, and He is the One who knows each of us.
Paul wrote, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
God created us to carry His riches and His glory. We are earthen vessels, yet He chooses to place His treasure within us so that the power is recognized as His.
Store Treasures for God’s Purpose
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21 to store up treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth, where they can be destroyed or stolen. Heavenly treasure endures, and where our treasure is, our heart will follow.
To store something up means to keep it until the time is right to use it. The riches God places in our lives aren't meant to collect dust or be used only for our own gain. He gives them for His Kingdom and His purpose, so that we can reach the lost, shine His light, and be salt.
This is part of seeking God's Kingdom first. What we treasure shapes what we pursue.
The Picture of a Hope Chest
A hope chest gives us a picture of storing valuable things for a future purpose. Traditionally, a young girl could receive such a chest and fill it over time with special items for married life. In Australia, a hope chest is also called a glory box.
Some chests were made of cedar, a wood that helps repel moths and other pests. The items inside could be used in joyful seasons or difficult ones, for everyday needs or for hospitality. They were kept with a purpose in mind.
Examine What You Treasure
If you opened the hope chest of your life, what would you find? What are the things you hold dear and are most likely to talk about?
A reputation, popularity, social media followers, stylish clothes, a new vehicle, physical beauty, a college degree, or a position at work can become prized possessions. These things can be good, but the question remains: Are we treasuring them above the riches of God?
Earthly treasures fade. When we pursue them for our fulfillment, we can find ourselves replacing them with more of the same, only to discover that they are temporary and unable to satisfy.
Surrender to Jesus brings new desires, new pursuits, and new treasures. His Word can anchor us through storms, and His presence can sustain us when we face loneliness or rejection. Those are treasures worth keeping.
Bring the Treasures Out for Others
Jesus said that a disciple instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings new and old treasures out of a storeroom (Matthew 13:52). The treasures are brought out, not kept hidden forever.
The love of Jesus leads us to share what He has given with believers and unbelievers alike. When we ask God to use us, we must be willing to go where He leads us and minister to the people He puts before us.
God can use a testimony to encourage, strengthen, and comfort someone. He can use what He has done in our lives to help someone in a fiery situation, draw a sinner to repentance, and make His name known.
When we share a testimony of what Christ has done, we can speak truthfully and keep Jesus at the center. The treasure belongs to Him, and the glory belongs to Him.
Fragile Vessels, God’s Power
Paul continued his teaching about treasure in earthen vessels with these words:
"We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
An earthen vessel is fragile, like a terracotta pot. Yet God places heavenly treasure in that vessel and equips us to do His will through hardship. The strength comes from Him.
We have a calling and a commission. We aren't called to give our lives to Jesus and then remain seated as polished Christians while others need prayer, encouragement, or a testimony of what God has done.
Let us be faithful to get up and share what He has placed within us. The Lord can use even the testimony of an anxious battle to strengthen someone who needs to hear how He brought us through.
Make Room for Lasting Treasure
We can ask God to show us what needs to be removed so there is room for His riches. As we draw near, obey His Word, and yield to His presence, He renews and reshapes the vessel.
Treasures well stored are meant to be treasures well spent. The Lord gives us His good gifts so that we can bless others and make His name known.
