Searching for treasure…

Your instructions (the Lord’s) are more valuable to me

than millions in gold and silver.

Psalm 119:72 NLT

Recently, I found myself out in the garden harvesting my potatoes—a favorite task of mine because it feels like searching for buried treasure. The soil is hidden beneath a layer of greenery and plant debris, so it’s necessary to carefully move these aside to reach the earth below. At first, only a few potatoes reveal themselves on or near the surface. I gather those, but the real reward comes from digging deeper, gently turning the soil and carefully sifting through it to discover more of those delicious tubers. Occasionally, I miss a few potatoes, but that’s perfectly fine, as those left behind will become seeds for next year’s crop.

  Studying the Bible begins with clearing away distractions—much like removing plant debris from the soil—so that I can focus on what’s in front of me. Distractions such as stray thoughts of my “to-do” list for the day or the laundry demanding attention. Then, I need to do a first read of the Scripture to see the more obvious lessons; this usually entices me to want to know more. Then, through re-reading, prayer, and quiet reflection, I discover truths that are less apparent but often much more valuable, just like the bigger or more perfect potatoes are sometimes found deeper in the ground. Will I miss some nuggets of truth as I read a Bible passage? Absolutely! Yet those beauties will be ready for me to harvest when the time is right for me to discover them.

 Perhaps an odd analogy, but in many ways, the process of reading and studying God’s Word mirrors the search for potatoes in my garden. I believe that we see lessons in the most ordinary of things in nature when we recognize how God can use His creation to teach us.