PSALM 73:25 – Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

THEME OF THE DAY. MOST PRECIOUS, PRIZED, AND TREASURED. I am about to ask us two questions. I will forewarn you. They are not to be glossed over and the answers will tell us much about our spiritual condition, worldview, even our theology. Please don’t be quick to answer them because I am going to challenge our answers. Or maybe actually expose them as either not really true or improper in their priorities in our lives. But first, I am not judging, criticizing, or correcting us for the sake of being combative, accusatory, or simply to correct us. This is very important stuff; necessary stuff with present and eternal consequences for good or bad. And I pondered my own answers to these penetrating questions for their sincerity and accuracy long before you are reading them. So, here we go . . .

Question one – “What is the most precious, prized and treasured possession in our lives?” As we each ponder this question, the list might be long for some who are materialistic, obsessed with worldly pleasures, driven by worldly achievements, or simply just love the world. For others it might be short with a few things; a few good things even, but I hope for each of us the list isn’t a list. I hope it is one thing, the best thing, the necessary thing – our Bible. The Psalmist writes, The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold (Psalm 119:72, 127). Job would add, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food” (Job 23:12b). For the Christian, the hungering and healthy Christian, the most precious, prized, and treasured possession owned is God’s Word. He or she would not part with the Bible for anything or anyone on earth. And when we look through church history and see the price people paid for us to have Bibles, we should be able to say without pretense, “My Bible is the greatest thing I own in life.” Friends, is it true? Do our lives reflect this is true? Oh, God help us not to put anything above the Bible in our affection. To do so is a form of God-displeasing idolatry. Now let’s move to question two . . .

Question two – “Who is the most precious, prized and treasured person in our lives?” We might be quick to place our spouses or family right up there. And yes, both should be right up there in our lives. Spouses or our families are great gifts from the Lord and should be precious, prized, and treasured but not holding first place in our lives. This place of priority, centrality, and supremacy is reserved for One Person – the most important Person in all the universe – the Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s scripture points to Him and Him alone as answering the question with the only right answer. And here is the beauty when Jesus does hold this chief place in our lives. We are enabled to love our most precious human relationships to the fullest extent with the greatest joy. Want to be a great husband, wife, parent, or grandparent? Don’t read the next book on the market telling us how. Nor try to do this on our own. Instead make knowing Jesus Christ and keep Him on the throne of our lives and we will fulfill our familial roles as God desires and designs. However, and this is serious, if we place anyone above Christ in our lives, this too is a form of idolatry. He will not allow anyone or anything usurp His Lordship in the lives of His people.

Yes, tough questions, but necessary ones. Our answers determine the place the Lord holds in our lives.

PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I attempt to place human relationships either above You or equal to You.”

QUOTE: “What or who is most precious in our lives will get the most attention from our lives.”