The Treasure of Friends

     Serious about pursuing treasure? Then you will be standing in lines very early in the morning. In fact, this is one time when that old saying, "the early bird gets the worm", is true - though hopefully you find something better than a worm once you are inside! It's in those lines that you have the opportunity to meet some interesting people. Over the years we have become friends with many of our fellow hunters. But wait, you say...aren't you all competing for the same things?

     Well, yes and no! I rarely look at books - but a friend is an expert. Depression glass, is sort of... depressing to me - very pretty but I can't wear it! However, another hunter friend's goal is to go home with a box full of those dishes! Over time we've gotten to know treasures others are hunting, and they've come to know my preoccupation with rhinestones!

     So we've exchanged phone numbers to alert each other when we find something the other collects. We share addresses of unmarked sales, and the names of dealers who might buy a treasure someone is selling. And we look out for each other - concerned when we don't see a regular at any of the sales that morning.

     No picture of sparkling rhinestones today! The treasure I want to share is friendship. We may not think we "need" other people, but life is richer - and sparkles more - when we have friends in our lives!

   

   
       In the book of Proverbs we read, "A friend loves at all times...", and "A man who has friends must himself be friendly..." (Proverbs 17:17, 18:24). Easy to follow instruction when times are good - like during this trip to Ireland with friends! But what about the hard times, days when you may not feel loving or friendly. Days when you don't feel loved, or befriended...

     For those days we need to remember love is not just a feeling - it is an act of obedience we are called to by God, and that our friendship is not something given conditionally- based upon what we are getting. Our great example of true friendship is Jesus Christ.

     Jesus told His disciples that there was no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends. He did just that when He died on the cross and freed us from the sin that made us slaves. He loved them and us beyond our capability to understand. It is rare for us to find ourselves in a circumstance where we must give our life to show love for our friends. Many times, though, we are called on to give up our time, our resources, our busyness - the things we consider "our lives" to act in love and serve our friends.

     The willingness to give up these things is what Jesus expected when He commanded us to, "...love one another as I have loved you." And how did He love us? With a love so great He would lay down His life...

   

   

Is it a Treasure or Should I Throw it Out?

     There comes a time when every treasure hunter must take stock of their inventory and decide which items to keep for collection or resale and which need to make their way out the door. For some of us, this requires a great amount of discipline! A woman who recently sold me some of her jewelry, things that had been sitting in a box untouched for years, remorsefully claimed, "I just know I'm going to see one of this on an episode of Antiques Roadshow!" She summed up the fear most of us have - that we will accidentally get rid of something we shouldn't have, something with great value that we are unaware of, and so we hold on...and on...and on...

    Here are a few rules I use when I've become overwhelmed with fabulous finds:

1. What condition is it in? Many times I've purchased something at a sale only to inspect it closely at home and find a crack, or missing stones! If the item is in poor condition and I'm not able to easily repair it, then it's time to let go. 
2. Take time to research the item in question. Look at the price similar items have sold for on eBay. Have the item appraised by someone at an antique mall, or a jeweler, when you are unsure. When I questioned the value of an unmarked Victorian belt buckle I took it to my favorite jeweler to be tested - and found out it was 18K rose gold. 
3. Does someone else need the item I'm letting sit on a shelf? From time to time a need will be mentioned, and I have just the thing being searched for - once it was a set of dresser door knobs!  If it's collecting dust or hidden in a box, it may be time for it to go home with a new owner!

     By periodically going through my inventory I am able to keep it under control - rather than letting it control me!

     I've listed some ways to take care of things that pile up around us - but what about the other collection we keep - the one piled up in our heart?

     I have a stack of greeting cards that I've added to over the years. Beautiful pictures, eloquent verses and kind notes tagged on by family and friends, each a priceless treasure! But another collection of pictures and words that I keep can't be placed in a box and tied with a ribbon. The ugly words and actions of myself, and others collect in my heart. Before I realize it, they rob me of the treasures that God intends for me to have in that place! How do I get rid of those?

1. God gave specific instructions in Ephesians 4:32 that we are to, "...be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, God forgives a believer for the wrong they have done. Apologizing to the one you've wronged, accepting God's forgiveness, and forgiving others that have hurt you will take a load off your heart! 
2. Our minds collect information all day long. We have to process this information and decide what is good to keep and what should be tossed out. God's instruction in Philippians 4:8 reveals what we should treasure, "...whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." 
3. Christ can't be placed on the shelf in our lives. The first and greatest commandment given is found in Mark 12:30, "...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." Every bit of us is to be focused on Him! With our full focus on Christ, the worthless things we've collected can be seen for what they are - worthless! 

     "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things"  Matthew 12:35

     What treasure are we keeping in our hearts?

     What needs to be thrown out?