“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
– 1 Peter 1:3-5
Have you ever played Monopoly? If you’re like most Americans, you have. Interestingly, the game was created in the year 1903 by a woman named Elizabeth Magie, who wanted to showcase the evils being wrought by landlords and how they were taking advantage of tenants. Fascinatingly, it ended up having the opposite effect: it caused people to want to be landlords and to make money themselves. The game became a reflection of our society and how deeply we want, desire and trust in money. John Ortberg tells a story about playing Monopoly with his Grandma when he was growing up, and how she would always win, taking every last house, railroad, and building. Determined to understand her strategy and to beat her, he set his focus on learning the game, with the intent of taking possession of everything on the board. His diligent study paid off when after a few months, he played his fiercest opponent again and took it all – every house, hotel, title, utility, railroad and dollar. After his victory, his Grandma acknowledged that he had learned the game well, but then she taught him yet another, more poignant lesson — that it all goes back in the box. Isn’t that a profound thought? Although players come and go and there are always winners and losers, in the end, it all goes back in the box. The same applies to us today. Everything we possess that we are so proud of – titles, houses, cars and the fat bank account – we can’t take them with us when our bodies go into the box. At that point, what we have left is the stuff that really matters; the things that are eternal. Heavenly treasure is the only kind that can’t be contained by the box. |
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for giving me eternal life and the ability to store up Heavenly treasures that will never spoil, perish or fade.
Reflection
What do you value? Does your treasure transcend the box?
One Response
What I Value the most of all is my relationship with GOD first & foremost, my amazing precious lovingly family , my amazing church family, & my good great christian confidente’ friends as well! Yes, my treasure does transcend in and outside the box in Jesus Christ every day & always that we myself & us won’ t take anything or anyone for granted for that we are God’s treasures always & forevermore ’til JESUS Comes Again!