Treasure the Good Book

Matthew 12:35 “The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.”

WHAT do you treasure? Is your treasure chest full of good things that are a source of doing good for yourself and others? Or might your treasures limit, even harm you and others? Jesus, of course, wants you to have good treasure to know God’s blessings for your life and the lives of many you know.

Good treasures are God's holy gifts placed in our hearts through his Word and Spirit. We read that “good” is God’s first blessing on his creation: Genesis 1:25d And God saw that it was good.

From this good beginning, then, God has extended his goodness to the world. He formed Israel and gave them his good Law, the Prophets’ good warnings and good promises, the Psalms’ good worship, the gospels’ good news of salvation and the epistles’ good teachings. That’s why the Bible is the Good Book. It delivers God’s good treasures to all the world.

Do you want God’s goodness in a list? Then turn to Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This list describes the character the Holy Spirit produces in those who trust in Christ. The beauty of this treasure becomes even meaningful when contrasted with the works of the sinful nature listed in Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Do you shudder when you read this? Such a summary of mankind’s bad treasures should move us to firmly stand on God’s Good Book, so we can joyfully defend and celebrate God’s goodness!

Jesus’ commands teach you how to measure your treasures against his goodness. He implores you to keep only the good in your treasure chest, so you will savor God’s abundant good fruit.

Jesus Teaches: Fill your treasure chest with the Good Book’s knowledge.