The Greatest Treasure

What is your greatest treasure? What do you value above all else?

Psalm 119:162 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

I rejoice at Your word, as one who finds great spoil.

God’s word is one of the greatest treasures we could possess. It gives us wisdom, insight and encouragement. It is infallible and completely true. While it was written by men, it was inspired and directed by God.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

The Bible is the best book to study, the most useful training tool to use, the best grounds for correction, and the most comforting book to read. If we could only read one book for our whole lives, this is the book that it should be. Of course, there are many good books out there, but this is the foundation of all other worthy writings, and none profit us more.

It is one of the most accurate-to-its-source writings of history. There are over 24,000 copies of the New Testament manuscripts with 99.5% accuracy, or agreement, between them. It is entirely reliable and, as the word of God, useful and necessary for every situation we could encounter. https://carm.org/manuscript-evidence

The Bible also gives us God. It is one of the best ways we can know Him because the Bible is God’s word to us.

John 1:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Bible is a tangible part of God that we have with us. That is why it is the best counseling tool, the most comforting guide, because in a sense it is God. By seeking and studying the Bible we are seeking and studying God if we go beyond the academic, if we accept that God is real and alive and actively speaking to us through the Bible. Because of this, the Bible should delight us.

Jeremiah 15:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

If we are “eating” His word, if we are partaking of it regularly and utilizing it in our lives, it will bring us joy. Partly because it is communion with God, but also because it will be directing our lives, and God’s way (outlined in His word) is the way of joy. It is the best way we could live and therefore will naturally bring us more joy than any other.

Do you delight in the Bible? Do you look forward to daily study and even put off other things in favor of it? If not, why?