I self-diagnose that I haven’t come down with the “lotto fever” like millions of other Americans, seeing I haven’t bought into its folly with even one hard-earned dollar; however, I still managed to hear about the Mega Millions Jackpot going on in the last month. Like many other people within the perimeters of this country and beyond, I am curious to know what will become of the [un?]-lucky individual from South Carolina who is said to have won the $1,540,000,000 prize a couple weeks ago.
Personally, I am not willing to risk winning millions in exchange for scores or hundreds of my husband’s dollar bills (not to put down those who do play the lottery, but I just don't think it's wise). I have heard and read History’s tale revealing that money gotten in such ways has a truly unearthly propensity of vanishing before the unlucky winner’s eyes, along with relationships and dignity. However, don’t be deceived. I am definitely into big rewards and am not deterred by the fact that the Rewards are generally holding hands with Risk.
I’ve been reliably informed that there are riches to be had in a distant country. They are available to any and all who are willing to attain them. There are equal chances for every soul with a place in the human race. These riches do not have any negative side-effects. They are resistant to every sort of calamity, being simultaneously fireproof, waterproof, and thief-proof. Worms and moths are not able to get a tooth into these treasures; neither can tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, or other disasters destroy them. Moreover, once they are yours, reliable hands will stash them into a safe place out of reach of greedy thieves. Neither do jealous people have a chance to sneak off with any of your sparkling, dazzling treasures. These treasures are beyond imagination, quite frankly, and beyond compare with the kind of treasures you can find at our country’s sparkling malls and department stores. Incredibly, these treasures will be yours to keep after you’ve gone to the grave. The millions won by the South Carolinian recently will all disappear and be lost to them eventually. However, I’ve been reading about a way to get rich and keep it all forever and ever!
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| Photo by Ramiro Mendes on Unsplash |
If you and I are smart, upon hearing news such as this we will be curious enough to ask, “What do I need to do to put some of this treasure to my name? Stand in a line? Pay some cash? Put my name in a draw? What’s the cost, and what’s the risk?” There is a way to get these treasures, but slow down, good American heart. Your ability to wait is essential in this quest.
Jesus tells us…
So, the safest place for treasures is clearly in Heaven, and there are actually people with treasures collected in that country.
How do you put treasures Heaven? One way is to give what you have here to the poor. Check it out in not just one but these three places: Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22
“Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” Luke 12:33 Amplified
In case you’re wondering, we are actually encouraged implored to secure money bags for ourselves that will not wear out, filled with inexhaustible riches, kept in the safest place you could dare to hope for.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.
There was a man who was digging in a field and found treasure that would exceed all he could earn in several life times. Quietly, he finished his field work, surreptitiously went home, and decided to sell everything he had in order to buy that field. I think there was a bit of time in-between when he decided to do that and actually finished selling everything when he could’ve changed his mind. He could have looked at all his precious household things gathered around him, and become overwhelmed with sadness at his loss. He could have worried that his plan wouldn’t work. Or, perhaps he could’ve “slept over it” for a night and in the dawn of morning sunshine decided that he actually had all he wanted and needed and didn’t want to sell all that he could see around him for something he couldn’t see buried in a field.
However, he flicked all those silly notions from the periphery of his wise mind, as he sold every last thing he owned in order to have enough money to be able to buy that plot of dirt. And the treasure became his.
From time to time I have “seen” heavenly treasure with my eyes of faith, and years ago already I decided to sell all I have to gain so much more. Jesus promises that what we lose for His sake, He will repay one with one hundred, if I get my math right! (See if I’m correct: Mark 10:29-31) That is tremendous. Every so often, God enables my eyes of faith to see more clearly than normal, and every sacrifice I make for Him truly feels paltry and insignificant in light of my promised future. Sometimes, He gives me tiny tastes of the future, as He rewards me here on earth in ways tangible to my dim earthly eyes.
And then there’s that space of time where I haven’t seen the eternal rewards yet, and I’m still in the process of selling all I have, and what I see here and now feels pretty real and desirable. To the physical eyes, there is an immense risk in selling all for an eternal treasure you cannot see.
Here’s what I think: what you’re willing to risk for depends on what and who you believe and what perspective you have.
The other day one of my sisters told me an anecdote from a recent Bible School experience. Sarah Grace was standing at a coffee bar, preparing herself a cup of tea. As she used a miniature ladle to scoop some thick, sweet cream into her tea, a young man getting himself some coffee piped up beside her. “That cream just makes it so good, doesn’t it?” “Sure does,” Sarah Grace replied cheerily.
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| Photo by Trent Erwin on Unsplash |
Then the fellow realized the drink she was dipping cream into was not coffee, but tea. “Oh, no,” he said. “Don’t ruin your tea!” “I’m not ruining it, I love cream in tea!” Sarah Grace rejoined good-naturedly. “No!” The fellow repeated. “I wouldn’t try it. One time, someone told me that honey in coffee is the best. I tried it; what a mistake. Ruined a perfectly good cup of coffee.” Giving his hot drink a stir, he walked off, leaving Sarah Grace with some interesting thoughts. “He didn’t want to take the risk of ruining a cup of tea by trying cream in it; whereas I think he is actually risking never discovering the luxury of cream in tea! It’s funny how what you’re willing to risk depends on which perspective you’re looking at it from.”
I think it’s like that with heavenly treasure. Which risk will we take? Will we risk losing our earthly treasures, our safety, our comfort and security and perhaps even our lives? Or will we risk losing eternal treasure we could’ve had that will never fade, get lost, stolen, or lose its shine?
When I’m thinking straight, it’s clear to see which risk is the more risky risk.
I might never have much money.
I might never have a “permanent” home.
I might spend a lot of time looking (or in the least feeling) like a misfit.
I might never be “in style”.
I might not have some fun things I would really like.
I might invest everything by faith in heavenly “stocks” I cannot see yet.
I might be a loser...in this world.
And I might gain ever so much more than this world has to offer.
In fact, may I take the “might” out of that sentence? Because I have chosen to trust the validity of the One who has earned my heart and my faith throughout His Word and the experiences of my life thus far. I SHALL gain ever so much more than this world has to offer.
What are you willing to risk for? Who are you willing to risk for? Don’t be duped into believing that you are smart enough not to take any crazy risks. You ARE risking something at every choice you make. If you choose to open your heart to love, for example, you take a risk at rejection, loss, and misunderstanding to name a few. However, trying to bypass those risks by shutting your heart to love is to risk loneliness, emptiness, and meaninglessness. You risk by buying into the ideology of the American dream. You risk by letting it all go for something Eternal.
In these days of transition while preparing to move to Ghana for three months, I have been pondering my choices in life and evaluating the things I’m risking for. Jesus said that those who lose their lives for Him will gain them again forever. And in the winding paths of my brain, the question is turning from, “Is it worth the risk?” to “Can it even be called a risk to give my all for a promised heavenly reward worth more than all I have to give?”
Risk makes perfect sense when you believe the character of the person who’s guaranteeing you the gain your risk will bring.
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