God Issues Today: "Trash and Treasures"

Author, educator and commentator Dr. James Denison has been pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas since June, 1998. Prior to that, he was pastor at churches in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Midland (at First Baptist!) and Mansfield, Texas.

Which is worth more--$3 or 300 pennies? Dumb question, you say, except that subconsciously you just chose the latter. According to today's New York Times, researchers have proven that we are illogically impressed by large numbers. If I tell you that I will spend two hours writing today's essay or 120 minutes, you'll be more impressed by the latter. (Neither is really true—I haven't eaten breakfast yet, and am gastronomically motivated to hurry.)

There's no telling what we'll find valuable. For instance, this morning's Times reports that thieves in the northeast are stealing snowplows in record numbers. It turns out that the newer designs are easier to detach from your truck and reattach to mine. Since they go for $5,000 or so apiece (or 500,000 pennies, if I want to impress your subconscious), and have no features which distinguish one from another, they are easy fodder for black market theft and resale. I've lived in Texas or Atlanta my entire life and have never seen a snowplow, so I'll take the paper's word for it. But if you live in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, stealing the implement you need to get to work is serious business.

Topping the charts in the category of unusual treasure is today's announcement in the Times that sea explorers have found the H.M.S. Victory, one of the most famous of all British warships. The ship sank in a fierce storm in the English Channel in 1744, losing more than 900 men and the largest bronze cannons of the day. Even more motivational for the discoverers, the ship may also contain four tons of gold coins worth $1 billion (that's 100,000,000,000 pennies to your subliminal mind). As you might imagine, ownership of the wreck is currently under rather serious debate.

One man's trash is another man's treasure, they say. (Who "they" is seems in this case to be a disputed point.) I have a shirt I like wearing around the house; if Janet had her way, it would be used to clean the house instead. You see an old steering wheel hanging on my garage wall; I see the leather wrap around the wheel, the last present my father bought for me before his death.

If the world were watching me type these words and you read them, it might see us as just another preacher and businessperson (or whatever you do for a living). But our Father sees us as his children, loved with a passion which defies description. He has all of eternity to listen to your next prayer. He is excited about spending this Tuesday with you, and wants a more intimate relationship with you than you have ever experienced. You are priceless beyond value in his eyes. Will you return the favor today?