Treasure

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“The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God. You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows. You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.

When they cast down, you shall say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.

He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”

Job 22:25-30

Who or what do you consider to be valuable to you?

Usually we think of family, friends or people who have significantly helped us. Does the Lord our God even figure in our response thoughts?

This passage is particularly striking. It stands out because of the out-of-this-world promises it makes to sinful people, as we all are. When we ponder on the disposition of God, it just overtakes our minds at His mercy, and we are amazed at who He is and what He is prepared to do for us.

The Almighty God who has rescued us from certain judgment and eternal death, is, in Himself, our treasure. How He is in Himself, His eternal character and person, is what we like to think on and as we ponder His perfections, attributes and mighty deeds, it lifts us up to worship Him. We love Him because of who He is, and not just what He can do for us. God is our portion and the more we realise that, the quicker we are to draw near in His presence and lift our minds and hearts to Him. We look up continually.

As we look to God, we adjust ourselves to Him and seek His likeness in our lives. When we ask Him for power, blessing and every holy grace, He will answer our prayer and give it to us. Whatever we ask for, we receive. God does not hold back from those who continually pursue Him. This is His purposes for us.

We keep our promises to Him, obey and honour Him in everything. So then His light will be shining on our lives and His favour will remain on us and all we do.

The humble person has the power to command events. When this world would cast us down or bring what we do into disrepute, we will still say “lift it up.” God will not allow His servers to suffer loss, blame or shame. The extent of this is extraordinary. It effects not just ourselves, but everyone around us. The person who is not right with God, will be delivered because of the righteousness shown by the Christian. God blesses people and places, because the Christian is there. Where the Christian is, the Holy Spirit brings blessing to everyone around.

This is a passage that shows the closeness of a true relationship with God. The clean-ness of our hands is the measure of the holiness of our hearts. We must desire the right situation and walk closely with God, asking for big things that will show His glory and bring the petitioner closer to Him.

There is no one like the Lord and to understand that is treasure. The person who is lifted up by God, who has been forgiven by God, has been given the necessary righteousness, so they belong to God, is now become treasure to people around.

May we be like the Lord our God, where our selves are not seen, and He is magnified in all we do.