“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44
Scotland is a land full of surprises. Driving through the Scottish Borders in the southeastern corner near the boundary with England, there are rolling green hills and quaint villages. As we pulled into the driveway of Bowhill House, however, we were in for a different type of treat!
Our guide met us at the front door of this country estate built in 1708. We learned that the original grand entrance was on the other side of the house and that renovations in 1831 had converted the more modest rear entrance into the front of the estate. Entering this magnificent home of the Duke of Buccleuch (also Duke of Queensberry, in case one dukedom didn’t provide enough wealth!), we were regaled with the history of this enchanting home. As we toured various rooms, “opulent” was the word that kept coming to my mind. A member of the Historic Houses Association in Scotland, Bowhill boasts an incredible art collection. In one particular room, I was surrounded at the same time by paintings created by Gainsborough, Canaletto, and Joshua Reynolds.
As if the interior wasn’t enough, at the conclusion of the tour, I made a beeline around the corner to the original front of the house. Oh my! Such a grand estate and so much more impressive from this side with such beautiful views of land and lake. The lawn was perfectly manicured with gorgeous blue poppies dancing under the first floor windows. It was a sight to behold!
As I reluctantly put away my camera and prepared to leave, I was thinking about all the money that went into the initial purchase of this estate, its renovations, and all the furnishings, including the artwork. The owners chose to invest in this property in a big way. Bowhill House was one of their many treasures.
In Matthew 13:44, we learn that the kingdom of heaven is a treasure. Accepting the Gospel message and living in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the one true treasure. As we see in this verse, making that relationship top priority brings great joy.
What do we invest in? How do we spend our money? Big houses are not inherently wrong. It all depends on our attitude. Is our home a museum to be admired? Or is our home a safe haven for ourselves and our loved ones as well as a place of hospitality for our guests?
More importantly, where do you place your trust? Do you trust in your material possessions for security and happiness? In Luke 12:34, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where do you look for happiness? The answer to that question will show where your true treasure is.
Like the man in our key verse today who found a treasure hidden in a field and sold all he had to purchase that field, may we value our relationship with Jesus above all else. For that is where we will find our one and only treasure, in relationship with Him.
Lord Jesus, may my treasure be found only in You. Help me to experience the joy of valuing life in You above all else. In Your Name I pray, Amen.
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Blue Poppies (Meconopsis) from Bowhill House, Selkirk, Scotland.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scotland is a land full of surprises. Driving through the Scottish Borders in the southeastern corner near the boundary with England, there are rolling green hills and quaint villages. As we pulled into the driveway of Bowhill House, however, we were in for a different type of treat!
Our guide met us at the front door of this country estate built in 1708. We learned that the original grand entrance was on the other side of the house and that renovations in 1831 had converted the more modest rear entrance into the front of the estate. Entering this magnificent home of the Duke of Buccleuch (also Duke of Queensberry, in case one dukedom didn’t provide enough wealth!), we were regaled with the history of this enchanting home. As we toured various rooms, “opulent” was the word that kept coming to my mind. A member of the Historic Houses Association in Scotland, Bowhill boasts an incredible art collection. In one particular room, I was surrounded at the same time by paintings created by Gainsborough, Canaletto, and Joshua Reynolds.
As if the interior wasn’t enough, at the conclusion of the tour, I made a beeline around the corner to the original front of the house. Oh my! Such a grand estate and so much more impressive from this side with such beautiful views of land and lake. The lawn was perfectly manicured with gorgeous blue poppies dancing under the first floor windows. It was a sight to behold!
As I reluctantly put away my camera and prepared to leave, I was thinking about all the money that went into the initial purchase of this estate, its renovations, and all the furnishings, including the artwork. The owners chose to invest in this property in a big way. Bowhill House was one of their many treasures.
In Matthew 13:44, we learn that the kingdom of heaven is a treasure. Accepting the Gospel message and living in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the one true treasure. As we see in this verse, making that relationship top priority brings great joy.
What do we invest in? How do we spend our money? Big houses are not inherently wrong. It all depends on our attitude. Is our home a museum to be admired? Or is our home a safe haven for ourselves and our loved ones as well as a place of hospitality for our guests?
More importantly, where do you place your trust? Do you trust in your material possessions for security and happiness? In Luke 12:34, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where do you look for happiness? The answer to that question will show where your true treasure is.
Like the man in our key verse today who found a treasure hidden in a field and sold all he had to purchase that field, may we value our relationship with Jesus above all else. For that is where we will find our one and only treasure, in relationship with Him.
Lord Jesus, may my treasure be found only in You. Help me to experience the joy of valuing life in You above all else. In Your Name I pray, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Blue Poppies (Meconopsis) from Bowhill House, Selkirk, Scotland.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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