The Riches….

Once upon a time there was a man who was given a gift. It was wrapped up tight in brown paper, with a twine bow. When he received it, he just knew, knew, deep inside of him that there was something precious inside. He guarded it carefully and kept it wrapped up, always carrying it with him. Each morning, he carefully wiped it off and each night carefully put it next to his bed on his lampstand. In time, his sleep-laden thoughts changed from "How beautiful is the brown paper! How beautifully tied is the bow! How beautiful is the gift inside, I'm sure!" to "How beautiful is the brown paper! What paper! What fine texture! What a bow!" Eventually, as with all men, he died. The gift remained wrapped up in its package, never opened.

Once upon a time, a father was in love with his daughter. To show his love, he spent everything to buy her a new dress, the best dress there ever was. They were poor, but he gave everything to give her this dress. It was a dress of whose like no one had ever seen—the cloth was softer than fur of a clean kitten, it shone brighter than the gold of the sun, and the silver accents were more luminescent than the moon, and there was a shine like the iridescence of mother-of-pearl. The girl exclaimed at its beauty!!! But it always hung on its hanger, and she continued to walk around in her rags of a dress. Her father asked her why…and grieved. But she never tried it on.

Once upon a time, on his deathbed, a master artist created the most beautiful piece of art there ever was, ever is, and ever will be. His dying wish was to leave it to his beloved wife, as the masterpiece of all of his life and all of his love. Those who looked at it thought that one could look upon it for ages and ages and never tire of looking at it. But the wife never looked at it. She went out and bought a cheap magazine picture, quickly pasted it on a piece of cardboard, and hung it up right above the fireplace mantel. This was her pride and joy and what she focused on, and dwelt upon.

"The kingdom of heaven is like this…."

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." (Matthew 13:44-46)

What things does the Father promise us that we never unwrap, never wear, never look at? Never claim? Never walk in? He has given us every good and perfect gift, treasures according to his riches…..

Perhaps we don't really believe there is something beautiful in the gift, and have fear to unwrap it.

Perhaps we get so fascinated with the cheap paper or the cheap things of this world that we lose the beauty.

Perhaps we are content in our rags, instead of trading them for the robes of righteousness that Christ promises us.

"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Is. 61:10)

Afraid, distracted, incredulous….we walk about in our rags. Oh Lord!!! Open my eyes! Help me believe!!! I believe, help my unbelief!

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:18-19)

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)

"Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ." (Ephesians 3:8)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Ephesians 3:16-17)

Do I realize what God has given me? Do I believe that He has these riches for me?