Daily pearls from the shore🫧

Cheesy treasure

My husband is very fond of cheese. I would buy big blocks so there is enough for a week at least, but before you know it’s gone. I tried even hiding it behind the containers in the fridge, but he can really sniff. Eventually, I stopped making the effort to save any.

The crux is that his heart is in the cheese; he would find it anyway.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

 This reminds me of the story about the Rich young man who came to Jesus seeking eternal life.
“..Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19: 16-30)

The rich man was a religious person, keeping all the commands, and Jesus loved him for that, *but the man chose what was given over the Giver.*

 Another man found a treasure, which was the Kingdom of God hidden in a field, and he hid it again. He was so happy that he went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Matthew13: 44)

 A merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13: 45-46)

Merchant and the other man understood the *value of the precious Giver and traded everything for that treasure.*

There is a contrast in the stories of the rich young man and the other two. It’s what your heart prioritizes that matters.

 Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ feet. (John12: 3)
She didn’t care about the cost. She brought her *best to honour the Lord* .

It’s about defining the ultimate. When you find the ultimate, that becomes your most prized possession. What we are following is where it will lead us.

 A poor widow offered only two tiny coins she had in the temple. (Luke 21: 2)
Even when she *had little, she honored God with it* .

It’s not only the principle of honoring the Giver but also how much the Giver matters to you.

God is in the counting business, but *it’s the heart that counts with Him, not the pennies* .