The Ring

Some young people from church invited our eight year old son to the river with them. As missionaries with busy itineraries, not to mention limited funds, opportunities for "fun times" did not come often and were welcomed with zeal. Our son was allowed to go with our blessing. As it turned out, he not only enjoyed himself, but had quite the story to relate when he got home.

As they played around the rocks lining the water, Stephen saw a gold glint that caught his eye. Upon investigation, he realized he had found a gold ring. Aside from the fact that there was no way to verify how long the ring had been there, this was an unfrequented part of a river in Mexico, leaving no way to find the owner.

The young men who had invited him tried their best to inveigle the ring from him, offering more and more money, till they reached the max they could offer—the equivalent of $50 in pesos. While 50 dollars might not sound like much now, back then it was enough to have coins jangling in your pocket even after getting a few treats at the local grocery store. Most young boys would have jumped at this offer. But not Stephen. Even at that young age, he showed the proclivities that would make him the excellent accountant that he is as an adult. He would not be swayed by offers of instant gratification. Wisely, he opted for keeping the gold ring.

And gold it was. At today's gold prices, that ring's worth would be in the neighborhood of $600. While it didn't cost our son anything, it did cost us something. A jeweler friend remade the ring to fit him, with his initial engraved on the front. But seeing the joy our son took in his find mitigated any sacrificial pain to our pocketbook.

We couldn't help but shake our heads in wonder. The wisdom of that young boy, knowing that it would be better to keep the gold jewelry than to exchange it for money he would spend and receive little benefit from simply amazed us.

In the Gospels, Jesus regaled His followers with similar stories. In Matthew 13:44 He told the parable of the hidden treasure. Then right on its heels in Matthew13:45-46 He shared the parable of the pearl of great price. It reads, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

How many people had played at that place in the river where Stephen found his ring? How many people had fixed their eyes on the nature around them, the beautiful trees, the clear stream with its artful rocks strewn in captivating patterns on the streambed, yet missed the treasure? How many people had engaged in swimming and playing, enjoying the activities offered by the river, without looking purposefully into its depths? But one boy looked. Really looked. And because he did, and focused on an unexplained glint, he found a treasure.

It is not wrong to take a time to rest, to engage in relaxing activities. Jesus himself encouraged His disciples to take time to rest (Mark i6:30-32). Neither is It wrong to work hard to provide for our family—quite the contrary. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 Paul admonishes the church with the words: "If any would not work, neither should he eat." Yet God would have us do more than merely live like automations. He would have us live life to its fullest, enjoying all the spiritual treasures with which He longs to bless us even here on earth—the fruit of the Spirit, the promises in His Word, the joy of His presence in worship and prayer.

May the Lord help us all to be like Stephen. May we keep the pleasures, the activities of life, the business of life, the needful obligations of life, in proper perspective. May they not keep us from looking for the greatest of all treasures in this river called Life. The treasures found in Jesus.

"And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times and strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is his treasure" (Isaiah 33:6).

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