All that Glitters is not Gold

     My friends can tell you that I am not shy about glitter. I love glitter on just about anything, except when it gets loose and runs rampant around my home! It's a wonderful time of year to hear from friends and many send Christmas cards with loads of glitter on them, beautiful, right? Yes, and no...all that glitters is not gold, when it's on my face, clothes, hair, etc., but not there intentionally. 

    An article about glitter being bad for the environment on insider.com (March 25, 2019), made me rethink my allure of the razzle-dazzle. I had seen something on television about glitter as well and that once it is washed down the drain, the tiny plastic particles get into our water and the ocean and cause chaos with human and animal digestive and hormonal systems. Crazy, right?!

    How many things do we love, that catch our eye and draw our attention, are a lot like glitter? They are sparkly and new, fascinating and intriguing, but once the novelty wears off, we see them for what they really are...temporary and unsatisfying, possibly even toxic!

    Proverbs 20:15 (NASB) says, "There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; but the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing." In Ezekiel 28:4 a similar comparison is made, "By your wisdom and understanding you have acquired riches for yourself and have acquired gold and silver for your treasuries." What these scriptures tell me is that knowledge and wisdom are more precious than gold. 

    The following proverbs offer great symbolism associated with gold.  Proverbs 11:22, "As a ring of gold in a swine's snout so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion." Proverbs 25:11, "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." Aren't those wonderful?! One is funny, but still poignant (who can't picture a big, fat pig wearing a gold ring in its nose?), and the other is beautiful, and full of grace, much like God. 

    God knew humans valued gold, so He used it as a symbol to point out to us that even something so treasured, does not compare to knowing and sharing the wisdom of the Word of God. The stuff we seek on this earth and fill our homes, garages, and even storage units with, does not bring the profound love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galations 5:22-23 NASB) that the Holy Spirit of God can fill us with, if we call on the name of Jesus Christ, God's Son, to be our Lord and Savior. Everything else, in comparison to salvation in Christ Jesus, is lackluster and momentary.

Matthew 6:19-21 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, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.