Castaways



Castaways at Maple Grove

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20).

Tucked away in the woods at the back of our property are some castaways from days gone by:  an old potato plow and a wheelbarrow.  Now rusted and discarded, they were once brand new and valued by their previous owner.

Throughout our lives we acquire one "treasure" after another.  Some are practical things we genuinely need for our daily living; others are things we want and seem to think we can't live without.  Sooner or later all of it either wears out or loses its appeal.  In any case, we won't take any of it with us when we die.  There is only one treasure that is truly of real lasting value:  the Word of God with its message for eternal life.   "The word of the Lord remains forever" (1 Peter 1:25).

"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" (Proverbs 2:1-5).