More Treasure: Proverbs 2:1-11

Thinking more about yesterday's scripture, I looked up the word 'treasure'.  Here are some of the definitions I liked:

-wealth or riches stored or accumulated
-any thing or person greatly valued or highly prized
-a concentration of riches
-prized possession or entity

I think of treasure as a collection of precious objects accumulated over time.  It seems like the things that you think about most can become a treasure of sorts in your heart.  How can we increase the amount of good treasure in our hearts, hopefully leaving less room for evil treasure?  I think of the book I just re-read, Jane Eyre.  I finished it over a week ago, yet I continue to think of Jane's example of choosing what she knew was right over what she really really wanted.  Although she is a fictional character, the difficult choice she made inspires me.  It strengthens my resolve to make similar difficult choices.  So for me, Jane's story is a good treasure--it is something I think about a lot, something that inspires me to choose the right.

Evil treasure: this is much easier for me to catalog.  It seems that my heart is full of this.  Some of my favorite evil treasures are cruel thoughts I have about myself.  I spend a great deal of time playing with this particular fool's gold.  I mentioned in my earlier post the evil treasure of anger and resentment which also plague me.


I can picture someone handling their treasure, stroking it, counting it, checking it to make sure it is all there.  The more we entertain certain thoughts, the more treasure-like they become to us.  Nearly every time I go out in public, a great deal of my mental energy is devoted to imagining the negative thoughts others must be having about the way I look.  No wonder I feel uncomfortable around strangers!  What if I could train myself, instead, to think about how each person I encounter is a child of God?  What if I could focus on finding a way to interact with someone in a positive way when I leave the house?  Could thoughts of love become a treasure to replace my current thoughts of fear and judgment?

Here is a beautiful scripture about treasure from the Old Testament, Proverbs 2:1-11:

 1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide [treasure] my commandments with thee;

 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

 6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler [shield] to them that walk uprightly.

 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

10 ¶When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

God's words, his commandments, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are suggested as treasures here.  If we seek these things, "as silver" "as for hid treasures" we will understand, find knowledge, receive wisdom, and be kept and preserved.  Beautiful.