Daily Devotions

Carrying on with the theme of treasure, in Paul's letter to the Colossians 2:2-4 we find Paul stressing that,   “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”

In the first week of July, 2011 there were media reports of a discovery in poverty-filled South India.

The vaults of the Padmanabhaswamy temple were opened after 130 years. Temple records mention the treasure, and its existence was known to locals. However, no one knew its true size.

The preliminary inventory of the temple treasure may have had King Solomon, the Knights Templar and Indiana Jones rolling their eyes in wonder. Over a ton of gold, sacks of diamonds and precious stones; gold necklaces over three meters long and weighing over 2.5 kilograms, gold crowns, thousands of pieces of antique jewellery, idols, and artefacts studded with diamonds and emeralds.

Initial estimates placed the value of the treasure at £17 billion, which makes this little known temple the richest place of religion in the world. It easily displaces the Vatican, estimated to own about £12 billion in wealth, its nearest competitor.

Antique collectors' valuation of the find, to be confirmed by the Supreme Court, could be over £100 billion. This staggering treasure had been basically forgotten. While children in the region starved to death, this staggering mountain of riches sat gathering dust.

Yet according to Paul we have a greater treasure than all the temples in India. Greater than all the treasure in every synagogue, temple, cathedral. Greater than all that sits in any vault on any continent.

Well might we sing

Christ, whose glory fills the skies,

Christ, the true and only Light,

Sun of righteousness, arise,

triumph o'er the shade of night;

Day-spring from on high, be near;

Day-star, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn

unaccompanied by Thee;

joyless is the day's return,

till Thy mercy's beams I see,

till they inward light impart,

glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

Visit then this soul of mine,

pierce the gloom of sin and grief;

fill me, radiancy divine,

scatter all my unbelief;

more and more Thyself display,

shining to the perfect day. Amen

Charles Wesley