According to the Euro News, an elderly woman in Romania found a curious, 7.75-pound “reddish chunk of rock” in a streambed. The stone served as a doorstop for decades until she passed in 1991 when it caught the attention of the relative who inherited the property. Deciding to have it appraised, he learned the door chock was “one of the largest intact pieces of amber deposits in the world.” With an estimated worth of over one million dollars, the geological treasure has since been designated as a Romanian “protected cultural asset.”
Similarly, a man at a Grand Rapids farm also used a chunk of rock as a doorstop for over 30 years, despite his suspicion it might be something more. Eventually he asked a Central Michigan University geology professor to take look, only to find it was a meteorite worth about $100,000.
Essentially, in each example the respective owners casually walked past a pile of money thousands of times. They were ignorant to the riches that were right there within reach.
What if that was you? How would you feel if, for decades, you had neglected a treasure in your possession? Would you be angry, maybe embarrassed or filled with regret? One thing is certain, you wouldn’t be indifferent to the discovery. It would evoke some form of “if only I had known” sentiment.
The Bible speaks of a treasure in your possession of much greater value than a Romanian geological gem. It will bring you greater satisfaction, gratification, fulfillment, contentedness and joy than all the money in the world. It is the wisdom found in the Scriptures. Is it possible that you are overlooking it? The first step toward avoiding the neglect of this treasure is to recognize its value.
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. (Proverbs 3:13–18)
The distance between you and the wisdom that leads to long life, riches, honor, pleasantness and peace is equal to the space between you and your Bible. Understanding the characteristics that make up a truly fulfilled life is within grasp. It’s a life that seeks God’s will, commits to obeying His commands and relies on His promises. Would you like to know more about the value of that treasure and the riches that God promises to those that search for it? Try this on for size:
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you. (Proverbs 2:1–11)
If you seek to understand the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, you will gain a divine shield, a wise heart, a satisfied soul and a wise mind, the very things that money cannot buy. The treasure is right there for the taking. Will you receive God’s words and treasure His commandments, or will you walk past it every day like a doorstop?
Riches and honor are with Me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and My yield than choice silver. (Proverbs 8:18–19)