She had gone there with family to take pictures in several grassy locations. At dinner she noticed that her rings were missing. The next morning, after having prayed for help, the group scoured the park on their knees. You've already guessed the end of this story—the rings were found! What are you searching for in life? How would you feel if you stumbled upon some expensive jewelry in a field and were permitted to buy the field and keep the gems? Even better, what if you were singled out of a huge crowd to receive the treasure as a gift? Oh, but you were! Jesus said in Matthew 13:44-46, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 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." You and I have already received the pearl of great price. The Kingdom of heaven is reserved for us (1 Peter 1:4). But this wonderful opportunity was given to us freely as a gift! We didn't have to go search out the treasure. In fact, it would have been impossible for us to obtain the salvation on our own (John 6:44). Do we realize how precious this gift is? The finders of both the treasure and the pearl in Jesus' analogies sold all they had to obtain these items of great value. Their actions showed they believed the treasure to be well worth the price. Likewise, when we were called to God's plan of salvation, we counted the cost and agreed to give up everything to follow Christ. We saw the great value in the reward! Is that value as clear to us today as it was then? Are we still willing to sacrifice this life's temporary pleasures and comforts in exchange for the eternal joy of salvation? Is the vision of that treasure still burning bright in our minds? If not, we need to rekindle it. As society suffers the penalties for wrong living and misplaced priorities, life will get harder for all. Christians will not be immune. We must not let the cares of this life deter us from seeking the eternal treasure of God's Kingdom. He said, "Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:31-33). My daughter believes God gave her back her rings. They are as precious today as when she first received them—maybe more so. What about our heavenly treasure? Will we hold it close and seek both His Kingdom and His righteousness? There is no greater treasure to seek than that. UN