If you thought gold was precious, check this out …

I’m busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy. But if I told you that I could get you some free gold today, could you make time to go with me?

Chances are, you’d drop what you’re doing and offer to drive!

After all, gold is trading today for $1,134 per ounce and is considered the most desirable, precious mineral in the world.

Otto Scott, writing for USA Gold, notes the following about gold:

“Although The Wall Street Journal lists gold as a commodity, and scorns the concept of gold as a currency, it continues to play its ancient role as the only true standard of value in times of war or crisis. These are presumably times of peace, but in fact we are riddled with cultural wars that continue to evoke murders, bombings, riots, and rebellions on the international stage … [Gold retains value under a variety of circumstances] The reason for this is not mysterious. History tells us that only gold retains its value during wars and upheavals, changes of empires and governments, and times of crisis. Although now officially held to be of only industrial value, gold is the oldest and most respected currency in the world and the only one respected when national paper monies lose value …”

Gold isn’t just “precious” for it’s great worth as a currency, it’s also a very useful mineral. Geology.com states the following:

Of all the minerals mined from the Earth, none is more useful than gold. Its usefulness is derived from a diversity of special properties. Gold conducts electricity, does not tarnish, is very easy to work, can be drawn into wire, can be hammered into thin sheets, alloys with many other metals, can be melted and cast into highly detailed shapes, has a wonderful color and a brilliant luster. Gold is a memorable metal that occupies a special place in the human mind.

When Spanish explorers first arrived in the ‘New World’ they met the native South Americans. These two cultures had been separated by a vast ocean, they had never touched one another, they spoke different languages and lived entirely different lives. Yet they had one thing in common – they both held gold in highest esteem and used it to make some of their most important objects.

Throughout the history of our planet almost every established culture has used gold to symbolize power, beauty, purity and accomplishment. Today we continue to use gold for our most significant objects: wedding rings, Olympic medals, Oscars, Grammys, money, crucifixes and ecclesiastical art. No other substance of the same rarity holds a more visible and prominent place in our society.

Okay, so gold has great value and remarkable practical usefulness, but what would you do if I told you there’s something more precious, valuable, and practical than gold that you also could get hold of today?

Would you be interested?

Alright then, this item that is more precious than gold and available to you today is …

[Drum roll please]

The Bible!

Yes, the Word of God!

Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. – Psalm 19:9-10.

Comparatively, in God’s economy gold is something to walk on (Rev. 21:21), but His Word is something to be cherished …

“Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold,” Psalm 119:127.

God’s Word is so immeasurably precious to us because it is by hearing His Word that faith is generated, and a “saving faith” in Jesus Christ is infinitely more valuable than gold …

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ,” Romans 10:17.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world,” 1 Peter 1:6-7.

What does the Word of God mean to you? How do you value it? Is it forging a priceless faith in Jesus Christ in your life? Or do you prize the mineral more?

Scotty