Which Treasure?

Psalm 17 ends with a contrast between those whose only treasure is in this life and those whose treasure is in God.  This is a deeply penetrating thought for all of us to consider.  Where is our treasure?  We can't answer with, "both," because Jesus forces us to choose.  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24, ESV).

Notice how Psalm 17 describes those who have treasure only in this life:  "...men of the world whose portion is in this life" (v14).  These people are described as being "of the world."  In Adam; belonging to this world system; having no portion in the kingdom of God and Christ.  How deceptive are riches and possessions!  How unsatisfying and anticlimactic is the pursuit of these vain treasures!  Man spends his days chasing after the wind, attempting to heap up wealth and pleasures, which can never satisfy the soul.  When they are gained, the internal emptiness remains.  And in the blink of an eye man's time to enjoy these treasures is gone.  He goes to the grave, leaving his treasures for someone else. 

But what of the man who has been awakened by the Holy Spirit of God; who has been given eyes to see the emptiness and vanity of worldly treasures?  His heart, by God's mighty grace, has been captivated by another Treasure.  A higher and deeper wealth has caught his eye, and one that fills up the emptiness forever!  Psalm 17 describes this man in this way:  "As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness" (v15).  Where is this treasure found?  In the face of Christ!  This man has been given eyes that see the unseen; he has seen a glimpse of eternal beauty in Jesus Christ!  The psalmist speaks of waking from the sleep of death, not to find that his days to enjoy his treasure are gone (like the "men of the world" of verse 14), but with the eternal gift of enjoying THE Treasure of God's glory and beauty and friendship forever and ever!  Praise God!  What a gift this is!

Where is your treasure?  Do you attend church services and profess to be a Christian, but find your thoughts and heart consumed with things "of the world"?  Or do you honestly treasure and love the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6)?

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2 ] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3 ] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4 ] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Colossians 3:1-4, ESV

What a treasure awaits those who are born again by the Spirit of God, who have set their affections on the One who has set his affections on us from before the foundation of the world!  Repent of the sin of rejecting the beauty of God for lesser "treasures," and look to the glory of God in Christ!  You will not be disappointed...

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4 ] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  Revelation 21:3-4, ESV