The Treasure Seekers

Last week, I traveled from Florida’s Space Coast to the Treasure Coast. The scenic ocean, beachfront, and Bohemian environment were delightful. At 10 am, one faced a long line to wait for Gilbert’s well-known sugar-free pistachio latte. The eateries include two vegan restaurants with 100% homemade dishes. And lest, I forget this is also a fisherman’s paradise.

Still, many skilled surfers and divers are not interested in the food or the fish. The Treasure seekers are fixated on finding the real sunken treasure with a history of surfacing. Yes, the turbulence of the Atlantic is boisterous enough to move gold, silver, and jewels buried in the watery abyss to float upwards.

The story of the Treasure Coast began over 300 years ago when a fleet of 11 Spanish ships wrecked offshore between the St. Lucie River and Cape Canaveral. These ships were sent to collect new wealth from the American possessions of the Spanish Empire and bring it to Spain. On their way back, this treasure-carrying fleet was sunk by the winds of a hurricane, scattering gold, silver, and jewels over the seafloor. To this day, these treasures can sometimes still be found washed up on the shores by lucky beachgoers, giving the region its well-deserved name. http://www.visitflorida.com

The “Find the real treasure on the Treasure Coast” tourism campaign lures thousands of people year-round. Although the chance of finding buried treasure is minimal, it is human nature to seek the treasures we do not possess. With the certainty that treasure-seekers will always exist, the revenue from Florida Tourism on the Treasure Coast continues to exceed all financial predictions in this state.

Our innate behavior is to desire more than we have. The excitement from beating the odds to find a buried treasure–the extraordinary with high value, or something as simple as finding spectacular seashells on the beach, leaves us victims to our desires for financial gain and a pleasurable satisfaction.

Last year, I found some [perfect beauty] seashells in a secluded beach area. Their artistic design excelled the skills of any renowned artist. After all, who can surpass the Creator’s skills? My entrepreneur brain cells kicked into action. Become a beach bum, search for shells, and sell them to the many Bohemian artists and collectors who love nature’s elegance. Even though the business plan was doable, my excitement waned with the next trip to search for the [treasure] shells. I was not having fun at the beach, which is why I lived on the Coast.

If I continued to find shells as a hobby, it would not have produced my unhappiness. None can escape the uncontrollable desire of treasure-seeking. It quickly turns into a relentless pursuit. When we seek treasure for financial gain, we feed our innate spirit of dissatisfaction.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus gives us a forewarning. He is aware that we cannot control the desires of the heart. The acquisition of material treasures has turned family members against one another, caused marriages to fail, and resulted in prison sentences for embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, and mismanagement of the investor’s money.

Be aware of your treasure-seeking mindset. The passion that drives us to possess earthly treasures leads to spiritual bankruptcy. Do not let people, places, or material things take your heart. Reserve 100% of your heart to love God. After all, who else can give us the incomparable heavenly treasure of a forever life in the perfect New Heaven and New Earth?

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” (Ephesians 3:20)

Prayer: God, we ask for a change in heart from seeking earthly treasures to one seeking heavenly treasures. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.