Treasure
Illustration★★★★A wealthy man was giving a pastor a guided tour of his property. He pointed north and said, “I own everything for as far as you can see.” Then he pointed east, south, and west, each time repeating, “I own everything for as far as you can see there too.” The preacher responded, “That’s impressive. But,” he added, pointing upward, “How much do you own up there?” In the early gold rush days in Australia in the 1850s, the discovery of gold had a profound effect on the country; it transformed it. People got excited. And in two years the population of Victoria exploded from 77,000 to 540,000. The prospect of finding a treasure in the ground generated enthusiasm and excitement.
The point
A wealthy man boasts of his land holdings. A pastor asks what he owns 'up there' (heaven), exposing misplaced treasure. Gold rush illustrates earthly temptation.