What's Worth More Than Everything?
We live in a world obsessed with value. We check price tags, compare deals, hunt for rare collectibles, and build investment portfolios. The penny—once a staple of American currency—is becoming obsolete because it costs more to produce than it's actually worth. As these copper coins disappear from circulation, collectors scramble to find the rare ones, the valuable ones, the ones worth keeping.
But what if we're looking for value in all the wrong places?
The Competing God
Money has always been important. In biblical times, just as today, people needed currency to survive—to buy food, shelter, and necessities. Those ancient coins, worn smooth by countless transactions, represented security, comfort, and power. Nothing has changed. We still need money to live.
The problem isn't money itself. The problem is when we place money—or anything else—above what truly matters.
Jesus made this crystal clear: "You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money." These aren't just nice religious words meant to make us feel guilty about our bank accounts. They're a fundamental truth about how our hearts work. Whatever we treasure most is where our hearts will be. Whatever we seek first will determine the direction of our entire lives.
The Rich Young Ruler's Mistake
Consider the story of the rich young ruler who approached Jesus with what seemed like genuine spiritual hunger. "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" he asked.
Jesus reminded him of the commandments—don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, honor your parents. The young man confidently replied that he'd kept all these since childhood. He was doing everything right, checking all the religious boxes.
But Jesus saw deeper. "You still lack one thing," He said. "Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
The young man walked away sad because he was very wealthy.
This story troubles us because it seems extreme. Sell *everything*? Give it *all* away? That can't be what's required, can it?
But Jesus wasn't primarily talking about money. He was talking about priority. He was talking about what comes first. The rich young ruler wanted eternal life, but he wanted it as an addition to his current life, not as a replacement for it. He wanted Jesus plus his wealth, Jesus plus his security, Jesus plus his comfort.
Jesus was saying: I must be first. Not second. Not equal. First.
The Man in the Tree
This brings us to Zacchaeus, one of the most compelling characters in the Gospels. Here was a man who had everything the world says matters. As a chief tax collector in the wealthy city of Jericho, he had money, power, influence, and a big house. He was the big man in town—literally a big deal, even if he was physically short.
But tax collectors were despised, especially by their own Jewish people. They were seen as traitors who had sold out to Rome, who grew rich by extorting their neighbors. Zacchaeus had all the external markers of success, but something was missing. Despite his wealth and power, he was still searching.
When he heard Jesus was coming to town, Zacchaeus didn't care about his dignity or reputation. This important man climbed a sycamore tree like a child, desperate just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. In that moment, his hunger for something real outweighed his concern for what people thought.
Jesus saw him. "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
The crowd muttered in disgust. How could Jesus associate with such a notorious sinner?
But something remarkable happened. Zacchaeus didn't just invite Jesus to dinner—he had a complete transformation. Right there, in front of everyone, he declared: "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
This wasn't gradual change. This wasn't a promise to do better someday. This was immediate, radical repentance. Zacchaeus had found something worth more than everything he owned.
Jesus responded: "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
What Comes First?
The contrast between the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus reveals something profound about faith. Both men encountered Jesus. Both had wealth. But only one was willing to let go.
The question isn't whether family, relationships, career, or financial security are important. They are. The question is: what comes first?
Many of us would say God comes first, but our lives tell a different story. We pursue careers at the expense of spiritual growth. We prioritize comfort over obedience. We say we trust God, but we act as though our security comes from our bank accounts.
Even good things—our spouse, our children, our friendships—can become ultimate things. And when we make anything other than God our number one, we set ourselves up for disappointment because nothing and no one else is perfect. Our spouse will let us down. Our children will make choices we didn't want them to make. Our friends will fail us. Our money will prove inadequate.
Only God is worthy of first place because only God is perfect, unchanging, and completely trustworthy.
Storing Up Treasure
Jesus taught, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Then He gave this promise: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
This is the paradox of faith. When we put God first—truly first, not just in our words but in our priorities, our time, our resources, our hearts—everything else begins to fall into place. Not because life becomes perfect, but because we're finally oriented correctly.
When God is first, we learn to love our families the way He loves them. When God is first, we handle money the way He intended. When God is first, we face disappointments with hope because our ultimate security isn't threatened.
The Choice Before Us
Like Zacchaeus in that tree, we're all searching for something. We climb and strive and accumulate, hoping to find significance, security, or satisfaction. But Jesus sees us in our searching. He calls us by name. He invites Himself into our lives.
The question is: what will we do when we hear Him calling?
Will we walk away sad like the rich young ruler, clinging to whatever we've made most important? Or will we respond like Zacchaeus, immediately climbing down and welcoming transformation?
What's impossible for us is possible with God. We can't save ourselves. We can't fix ourselves. We can't find ultimate meaning in anything this world offers. But when we seek Him first, when we make Him our treasure, we discover what we've been looking for all along.
The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. He's seeking you. The only question is: are you seeking Him?
We live in a world obsessed with value. We check price tags, compare deals, hunt for rare collectibles, and build investment portfolios. The penny—once a staple of American currency—is becoming obsolete because it costs more to produce than it's actually worth. As these copper coins disappear from circulation, collectors scramble to find the rare ones, the valuable ones, the ones worth keeping.
But what if we're looking for value in all the wrong places?
The Competing God
Money has always been important. In biblical times, just as today, people needed currency to survive—to buy food, shelter, and necessities. Those ancient coins, worn smooth by countless transactions, represented security, comfort, and power. Nothing has changed. We still need money to live.
The problem isn't money itself. The problem is when we place money—or anything else—above what truly matters.
Jesus made this crystal clear: "You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money." These aren't just nice religious words meant to make us feel guilty about our bank accounts. They're a fundamental truth about how our hearts work. Whatever we treasure most is where our hearts will be. Whatever we seek first will determine the direction of our entire lives.
The Rich Young Ruler's Mistake
Consider the story of the rich young ruler who approached Jesus with what seemed like genuine spiritual hunger. "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" he asked.
Jesus reminded him of the commandments—don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, honor your parents. The young man confidently replied that he'd kept all these since childhood. He was doing everything right, checking all the religious boxes.
But Jesus saw deeper. "You still lack one thing," He said. "Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
The young man walked away sad because he was very wealthy.
This story troubles us because it seems extreme. Sell *everything*? Give it *all* away? That can't be what's required, can it?
But Jesus wasn't primarily talking about money. He was talking about priority. He was talking about what comes first. The rich young ruler wanted eternal life, but he wanted it as an addition to his current life, not as a replacement for it. He wanted Jesus plus his wealth, Jesus plus his security, Jesus plus his comfort.
Jesus was saying: I must be first. Not second. Not equal. First.
The Man in the Tree
This brings us to Zacchaeus, one of the most compelling characters in the Gospels. Here was a man who had everything the world says matters. As a chief tax collector in the wealthy city of Jericho, he had money, power, influence, and a big house. He was the big man in town—literally a big deal, even if he was physically short.
But tax collectors were despised, especially by their own Jewish people. They were seen as traitors who had sold out to Rome, who grew rich by extorting their neighbors. Zacchaeus had all the external markers of success, but something was missing. Despite his wealth and power, he was still searching.
When he heard Jesus was coming to town, Zacchaeus didn't care about his dignity or reputation. This important man climbed a sycamore tree like a child, desperate just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. In that moment, his hunger for something real outweighed his concern for what people thought.
Jesus saw him. "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
The crowd muttered in disgust. How could Jesus associate with such a notorious sinner?
But something remarkable happened. Zacchaeus didn't just invite Jesus to dinner—he had a complete transformation. Right there, in front of everyone, he declared: "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
This wasn't gradual change. This wasn't a promise to do better someday. This was immediate, radical repentance. Zacchaeus had found something worth more than everything he owned.
Jesus responded: "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
What Comes First?
The contrast between the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus reveals something profound about faith. Both men encountered Jesus. Both had wealth. But only one was willing to let go.
The question isn't whether family, relationships, career, or financial security are important. They are. The question is: what comes first?
Many of us would say God comes first, but our lives tell a different story. We pursue careers at the expense of spiritual growth. We prioritize comfort over obedience. We say we trust God, but we act as though our security comes from our bank accounts.
Even good things—our spouse, our children, our friendships—can become ultimate things. And when we make anything other than God our number one, we set ourselves up for disappointment because nothing and no one else is perfect. Our spouse will let us down. Our children will make choices we didn't want them to make. Our friends will fail us. Our money will prove inadequate.
Only God is worthy of first place because only God is perfect, unchanging, and completely trustworthy.
Storing Up Treasure
Jesus taught, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Then He gave this promise: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
This is the paradox of faith. When we put God first—truly first, not just in our words but in our priorities, our time, our resources, our hearts—everything else begins to fall into place. Not because life becomes perfect, but because we're finally oriented correctly.
When God is first, we learn to love our families the way He loves them. When God is first, we handle money the way He intended. When God is first, we face disappointments with hope because our ultimate security isn't threatened.
The Choice Before Us
Like Zacchaeus in that tree, we're all searching for something. We climb and strive and accumulate, hoping to find significance, security, or satisfaction. But Jesus sees us in our searching. He calls us by name. He invites Himself into our lives.
The question is: what will we do when we hear Him calling?
Will we walk away sad like the rich young ruler, clinging to whatever we've made most important? Or will we respond like Zacchaeus, immediately climbing down and welcoming transformation?
What's impossible for us is possible with God. We can't save ourselves. We can't fix ourselves. We can't find ultimate meaning in anything this world offers. But when we seek Him first, when we make Him our treasure, we discover what we've been looking for all along.
The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. He's seeking you. The only question is: are you seeking Him?
Melvin Vandiver
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