Treasure. What’s yours? What do you truly value in life? What is it that you desire? What do you have your heart set upon? The secret to a true life of joy and happiness is learning to value the right things. There are real treasures in life, things of true value, lasting things that will enrich our lives and bring us true joy. There are also a lot of artificial things out there that are not worth our attention and efforts to attain them. They appear to be valuable but their value is not lasting or it has no depth. Too often we are ensnared by the allure of something that promises more than it can deliver. Too many lives have been wasted by chasing after illusions and empty promises. Our literature abounds with stories of buried treasures, hidden treasures, lost treasures, sunken treasures and people who have spent their lives chasing after these allusive troves of riches and wealth. These treasure hunts almost never bring happiness and contentment to the one who is searching but usually result in a life that is lost in the quest for something to give their lives real meaning.

How often do people set their hearts on things of questionable value? When we desire things that are not worthy of our human dignity and destiny these things bring us only sorrow and suffering. Many people spend their lives chasing after material wealth and riches that remain beyond their grasp. Others set their hearts on partners and relationships that are not suitable to a true and lasting love. Some spend a fortune and their lives and health on drugs and substances that give them a brief escape from reality and allow them to live for a brief time in an illusory world. Many people are subject to scams and cons because they set their hearts on something that is of no value and convince themselves that it one day will deliver on its promises.

In 1Kings 3,5-12, we have an example of someone who recognizes what is of true value. Solomon is given the opportunity to ask for anything in life, any treasure that he might desire. It can be money, power, fame, women, kingdoms anything in the world but he chooses to look beyond the things of the world. Solomon asks for wisdom and an understanding heart. With wisdom and an understanding heart then he will know what to desire and what is of true value. With wisdom and understanding Solomon will be able to make good choices and choose what is truly good. Wisdom and an understanding heart will allow him to seek and to find God, to know him and to honor him in his service.

In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, 44-52, Jesus speaks about the kingdom of heaven as a treasure, something truly worthy of our desiring. When we recognize the true value of the kingdom of heaven we will give up everything to seek it and make it our own. The first parable speaks about the kingdom as a treasure that is hidden in a field and the one who finds it who goes to great lengths to purchase the field and attain that treasure. The second parable compares the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great price which a merchant gives everything to have as his own. The third parable speaks about the kingdom of heaven as being a dragnet that will bring out of the depths both the good and the worthless. The patient fisherman sits down to separate what is of true value from what is worthless. The good things of value he places in a bucket and the worthless things he simply throws away.

True happiness and joy comes from recognizing the true value of the kingdom of heaven in our lives. The kingdom of heaven is a true treasure that is available to all of God’s children. It is truly worthy of our deepest and strongest desires and we should be willing to go to great lengths to attain it. As children of God we should set our hearts on attaining the kingdom of heaven and direct our entire lives to reaching that goal. Jesus teaches us in another part of the gospel that where our treasure is there will our hearts will be. The wise and understanding heart is set on heaven and the true treasure of eternal life in God’s kingdom. The spirit of discernment, from a wise and understanding heart, teaches us to be able to sit down at the dragnet of our lives and separate out the good from the worthless. The good we need to save in buckets and the worthless we need to get rid of by throwing it away. True happiness comes from full buckets! What’s in your bucket? Is it truly worth keeping? Have you found God’s treasures hidden in life?