Sunday, September 6, 1998
Sunday, September 6, 1998
He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people
of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 148:14
NRSV)
In the spring of 1608 the settlers at Jamestown, Virginia discovered gold. At least they thought
they did. They almost totally abandoned any efforts at planting crops, preparing buildings, and
readying themselves for winter. They had found gold and devoted themselves to steadily digging
out and washing the precious metal. The colonists probably would not even have survived the
summer and fall if the Indians had not fed them. However, they were able to send a ship back to
England with a heavy load of the metal for which they had labored all spring. Unfortunately their
gold turned out to be iron pyrite, also called "fools' gold." They had given their time, their talent,
and all their energies to "fool's gold."
The colonists could say the name "fools' gold" had special meaning for them. For not only had
they been deceived by the worthless look-alike mineral, but they had foolishly abandoned
everything they needed for life in a quest that would have made no sense even if their discovery
had indeed been real gold.
Is that not a parable of the way many of us spend our lives? Stocking up fool's gold. Ignoring the
really important matters in life like building a closer relationship with God.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for your patience, as I learn to work on the things that
really matter. Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA