Earthly vs. Heavenly Treasures
Job 28:1-28 . . . “There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways. The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire; sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it. Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. Man’s hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains. He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures. He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.
“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
“Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, ‘Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.’
God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’ ”
Proverbs 3:13-18 . . . Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
Winning the Lottery Ruined My Life
Samantha Ireland, April 2019
Andrew ‘Jack’ Whittaker was a larger than life character. A real-life cowboy who dressed all in black like Johnny Cash, Jack, 55, was cheerful and polite. He came from a poor family and started work in construction at the age of 14 to help put food on the table. After years of back-breaking work, he had the experience and drive to start his own water and sewer pipe business, going on to employ more than 100 people. With his beloved wife of 40 years, Jewell, their daughter, Ginger, and granddaughter, Brandi, by his side, Jack was a contented man.
Then just before Christmas in 2002, Jack walked into his local service station. Brenda Higginbotham, the cashier, greeted him with a smile and good-natured teasing like she did every morning when Jack arrived to get breakfast before work. But this day, Jack noticed the large Powerball jackpot, so he bought a ticket. That decision would change his life forever. On Christmas Day, Jack won $315 million – the largest undivided lottery jackpot in history.
Within days, Jack’s charisma, frequent media appearances and pledge to dedicate millions towards building a new church and supporting underprivileged locals catapulted him into celebrity status. Jack loudly and proudly declared the win wouldn’t change him and he’d keep his feet firmly planted on the ground. ‘I want to be a good example. I want to promote good will and help people,’ Jack told reporters.
But just a week later, the manager of a local strip club said Jack slapped $70,000 in cash on the bar and saw in the New Year through a haze of booze and women. He did make good on his promise to help people, creating the Jack Whittaker Foundation and sharing almost $10 million between three churches. He also built sports fields and playgrounds, and even bought Brenda, the cashier, a new house and car. Crowds of people began seeking Jack out, all with a sad story and begging for a hand-out.
After being continually harassed Jack stopped going in for breakfast. His commitment to remain humble and use his windfall to spend more time with his family was soon forgotten. Instead, he spent more of his time hanging out with his new friends at casinos and bars. Accusations of sexual harassment and public belligerence emerged, followed by car accidents, drunk driving charges, and multiple lawsuits. Jewell, a quiet, God-fearing woman, was devastated.
Showered with money, Jack’s adored and doted-on granddaughter Brandi, 16, lost friends, went off the rails, and turned to drugs. ‘Brandi’s money attracted a new crowd and she became distrustful, never sure if the people were genuine or just there for the gifts and drugs she could buy. ‘They want her for her money and not for her good personality,’ Jack said. ‘She’s the most bitter 16-year-old I know.’ Then, Brandi’s boyfriend died from an overdose, in Jack’s house.
Just as suddenly as Jack’s star had risen, community opinion of their hero cowboy darkened and Jack became the topic of rumor and gossip. People felt that Jack thought his money made him better than everyone else. Unable to handle Jack’s descent into debauchery, the final straw for Jewell came in November 2004 when Jack crashed his car into a concrete median strip and was again charged with driving under the influence. Jewell kicked him out and changed the locks, telling reporters she wished they’d torn up that lottery ticket.
Then, Brandi stopped showing up at Jack’s office to collect her daily check. Concerned, Jack reported his granddaughter missing and 11 days later, just two years since Jack’s win, Brandi’s body was found. Although it was never confirmed, it’s suspected she had also overdosed. “My granddaughter is dead because of the money,” Jack said. “She was the shining star of my life.”
By 2007, Jack was broke. In 2009, his daughter Ginger, Brandi’s mother, was found dead at her home, aged 42. Then in 2016, Jack’s house burned down and he wasn’t insured. Since then, he hasn’t given any interviews. “At first I didn’t think anything would change, but everything has changed,” Jack said previously. “My wife said she wished that she had torn the ticket up. Well, I wish that we tore the ticket up too.”
A 10-year Treasure Hunt Ends
Megan Leonhardt, 6/8/20
Treasure hunters searching for Forrest Fenn’s treasure chest in 2017
After 10 years, a search that led an estimated 350,000 treasure hunters on a wild chase around the Western portion of the U.S. came to a close this weekend. One lucky individual found a treasure estimated to be worth $1-$5 million that’s been hidden somewhere in the Rocky Mountains since 2010.
Forrest Fenn, an 89-year-old art dealer, author and Vietnam veteran who hid the treasure, confirmed to the Santa Fe New Mexican on Sunday that an individual located the loot just a few days ago. Fenn says the man, who was “from back East,” does not want his name disclosed, adding that the treasure hunter confirmed the find with a photograph. Fenn did not reveal exactly where the treasure chest, which was filled with rare gems and coins, had been hidden all this time.
The search for Fenn’s buried treasure captured the imagination of thousands of Americans, many of whom devoted years to the search after Fenn alluded to the chest’s location in a cryptic 24-line poem he wrote in his 2010 self-published memoir, “The Thrill of the Chase.” But the search for Fenn’s treasure has not been without controversy. Some seekers have given up their jobs to join the hunt, while others claimed the entire enterprise was an elaborate hoax and have filed lawsuits. And for some, the quest proved fatal. At least four people are believed to have died in accidents while searching.
In interviews, Fenn says he originally planned to take the treasure up to Rockies and die beside it after he was diagnosed with cancer in 1988. But he survived and eventually hid the chest in 2010, at the peak of the Great Recession. “Lots of people were losing their job, despair was written all over the headlines and I just wanted to give some people hope,” he told ABC News.
He has also affirmed that hiding the treasure was largely about encouraging families to enjoy the outdoors. “I wanted to give the kids something to do”, he said. “They spend too much time in the game room or playing with their little handheld texting machines. I hope parents will take their children camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. I hope they will fish, look for fossils, turn rotten logs over to see what’s under them, and look for my treasure.”
Discovering Comfort in the Treasures of Christ
Tammy Kennington | Aug 7, 2020
Tiny legs carried them across the sand in a frenetic search as each child bent low over a crudely sketched map. The sunlight shone from their eyes like sea glass scattered on the beach. “It’s here somewhere,” one said. “Let me look at that.” Another boy grabbed the paper from his brother and quickly assessed their position. “I think it’s by him. Come on, guys. It’s gotta be buried somewhere by dad.”
Squealing and shouting, four little children careened toward their father. Joining in their play, the man threw his head back. His laughter joined the rush of the ocean waves splashing joyfully against the beach. The littlest one squatted near her father’s feet and brushed wet, gritty sand from something dark and brown. The boys joined in and they dug deeper, grainy bits of shell and dirt cemented to dimpled hands and limbs. Forming a pocket around the ridge of a wooden box, the one with the husky voice shouted, “We found it. Buried treasure.”
That game was one our children - now teens and young adults - still remember. My husband was a master at creating treasure hunts and this was particularly memorable. Like children, we are all seeking after treasure; searching after that which fills the empty places of our souls. But the treasure that satisfies man’s soul isn’t discovered in wealth, fame, or even family. It’s found in the person of Jesus Christ and He is waiting patiently for people to seek Him. Scripture affirms, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13).
And when we seek the treasure of Christ afresh each day, He pours out the spiritual riches of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Oh, the abundant goodness of our Father! Here, kneeling in the blood-soaked soil at the foot of the cross we’ve discovered the Word, the Lord, the Lamb, the Lion of Judah, and the free gift of Life. May you find comfort in this wealth today.