A Better Deal

There was once a popular television game show where contestants would be presented with 26 briefcases. Concealed within each case were different amounts of money ranging from 1 cent to $1,000,000.  The game would begin with the player choosing one briefcase in hopes that it held the $1,000,000 prize and setting it aside for the duration of the game.  The contestant was then required to choose 6 other briefcases to be opened and discarded from the remaining 25.  If none of the 6 discarded briefcases contained the coveted $1,000,000, that increased the likelihood that the coveted amount was within the solitary case originally chosen.  At this time, a group of mysteriously disguised individuals referred to as the “bankers” would offer the player a certain amount in exchange for the briefcase chosen at the beginning of the game.

            The amounts offered by the bankers throughout the game were never equaled to $1,000,000 grand prize, but were appealing in that they provided a sure way to keep the player from going home empty handed.  What if there was only 1 cent in the chosen briefcase? In that scenario, accepting the amount from the bankers would certainly be the route to take. But then again, what if the case held the coveted $1,000,000? Accepting the bankers’ offer would be a foolish choice. The dilemma of the contestant was not knowing the value of what was in their case. And so it is with us when we don’t know what the Father has afforded us in Christ.

            If we are not careful, we can fall into the trap of pursuing the amassing of financial gain as the end goal at the risk of losing our soul which ultimately darkens the consciousness and ends in disappointment. This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “...the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”.(1 Timothy 6:10) And Jesus Himself warned of the danger of living primarily for financial gain when He said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”.(Matthew 6:24)  
The greed that we see plaguing the political sphere, the corporate sector, global superpowers, families, communities and even religious institutions is the result of the love of money.  Ironically, it's not money the people really want, but the power it yields to possess the things that bring about a sense of security and satisfaction even if only for a while.

Yet, Jesus challenges us with a different point of view saying that God, our Father in heaven, knows the things that we need to be whole. He says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal”.(Matthew 6:19-20) Jesus would go on to eventually say, “...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.(Matthew 6:33)

Jesus proclaims a better deal. He assures us that our Father in heaven knows what we need and will provide for us abundantly and eternally if we place our trust in Him.  That is why He preached everywhere saying, “...the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel”.(Mark 1:15)  Jesus also said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”.(Luke 12:32)

As great as this sounds, for many, it seems too good to be true.  And so we tend to be like the contestant on that game show, having a briefcase that has the potential of having that which is of the greatest value, but being uncertain.  Yet, Jesus brings confidence by His words and works that what the Father has in store for us is better than $1,000,000 or anything else this world has to offer.

Better yet, Jesus guarantees the inheritance that the Father extends toward those who trust in Him, by enduring the cross even unto death and rising from the dead with all power in His hands settling once and for all, that the kingdom of God is truly accessible to all who believe.  Unlike the game show contestant, we know what is in our case by the Spirit of Christ. We don’t need to fall for the tactics of the enemy, who, like those “bankers”, offers us something that is far less in value than what God has set before us. Christ is the briefcase from heaven, in whom is eternal life. All the money in the world could never compare to the treasure that we have in Him. Without question, in Christ, we have a better deal.