Objects: A cheap gold imitation watch and a very expensive golden watch
Lesson: Look beneath appearances to find lasting value
Outline:
1. Things that attract attention aren’t necessarily valuable.
2. Things of true value last.
3. Spiritual treasures—love, hope, faith—are truly valuable.
Look at these two golden watches. This watch certainly stands out, doesn’t it? See how it shines and sparkles with this golden design. It looks expensive, like something it would take your whole year’s allowance to buy, or maybe more than that! But, its looks are deceiving; it’s just a cheap watch you can buy for a few dollars. Everything that shines and sparkles isn’t necessarily very valuable.
Now look at this other watch. It’s rather plain and simple, without any decoration. But, if you look closely at the back of this watch you will find some printing—it says “14K.” That means that this watch is made of gold. It’s worth quite a bit more than this other one.
The gold watch is worth more for a lot of reasons, one being that gold lasts; it doesn’t rust or tarnish or turn your skin green when you wear it. Gold lasts a long, long time, and that’s one reason it’s considered to be of great value.
But, the Bible says that there are things which last even longer than gold, and are thus even more valuable than gold. The Bible says that love lasts forever, and that faith can stand the test of time, and that hope is eternal. These are spiritual treasures, worth more than all the gold in the world.
Wise people are people who try to see beneath the shine and sparkle of life in order to find those qualities which will last, qualities which only God can give us; money can never buy them. So, look at life carefully, and try to find those treasures that last.
You won’t be sorry you did.
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Excerpted from Elder’s Guide, Volume A, General Conference Ministerial Association. Reprinted with permission. Visit the Ministerial Resource Center, GC Ministerial Association to purchase this and other helpful resources. Better Sermons © 2005-2008. Click here for usage guidelines.