More Precious Than Gold

I lean over the railing and look down into the capitol building’s atrium. Three stories below, important men and women tread across ornate tilework. For just a moment, I feel like a boy. There’s some change in my pocket, and I have a burning desire to drop a penny over the railing.

My better judgment prevails, and I turn back toward the tour guide. I’m so glad I have the opportunity to tour the Iowa capitol building today. I’ve seen pneumatic clocks and climbed up narrow towers. I’ve watched the sun stream over marble and glint across gold.

“There are seventeen vaults in this building,” the guide says. “Can anybody guess how much money they hold?”

I glance at a nearby Roman sculpture. Considering the opulence of this building, I’m sure those vaults are stuffed with cash.

“None,” the guide says. “Instead, the vaults house and protect important documents.”

I raise my eyebrows. It seems backward to display gold and to guard musty papers. But the decision to protect documents speaks to what holds true value: knowledge.

That idea makes me wonder if I place a high enough premium on knowledge.

I have access to the most valuable knowledge in the world—God’s revelation through His word. But it’s easy for me to take the Bible for granted. I often forget that the book laying on my coffee table is priceless. Instead of poring over every word of the Creator, I skim. Instead of memorizing verses and their addresses, I depend on Google searches to point me toward passages.

I don’t want to overlook the treasure I’ve been given. I want to recognize it for what it is: more precious than gold.

My tour group begins to filter up another staircase. More grandeur awaits. But I know nothing compares with the gift of God’s word.