I was recently sitting at a table in the activity room of a retirement home when two elderly ladies entered. One was pushing a large cart loaded with dolls, framed pictures, knickknacks, tiny antique statues—a most interesting potpourri of “collectibles.” Behind her in a wheelchair followed the owner, whose turn it was to display her accumulation of things at a monthly “collectors club” meeting.
Many other elderly ladies were excitedly making their way towards the room, obviously looking forward to seeing another’s collectibles. I overheard one remark with obvious envy, “Mary’s husband collected elephants. He had over two hundred of them!” Man by nature is a collector of a seemingly endless list of things—figurines, coins, china, antiques, dolls, toys, books, anything and everything.
While not condemning such hobbies if they are kept in proper balance, I did wonder, watching these dear elderly souls, if those things they had so diligently collected—and which seemed so important to them—provided any lasting joy, comfort or satisfaction in these last, closing years of their lives.
Interestingly, the Word of God gives us a divine record of many collectors—some whose collections were priceless, while others’ proved worthless.
A shining example of a priceless collection, as we may say, was accumulated by the sweet psalmist of Israel—David. He had desired to build a house of worship in which the God of Israel would dwell. But Jehovah’s word came to him through the prophet: “Thou shalt not build a house unto My name” (1 Chron. 22:8). David submitted to the Lord’s word, and then he began collecting many of the materials he knew his son Solomon would need to build that glorious temple (1 Chron. 22:25;14-16). He built this collection—not to keep it for himself—but with the purpose of leaving it for the benefit of others.
Let us diligently lay up the treasures of divine truth we have received—for our benefit and the benefit of our younger brethren. (See Matthew 6:20; 2 Cor. 6:14). If the Lord tarries, these divine truths must be used by all who seek to build in the assembly.
David’s son, Solomon (the wisest man, apart from the Lord Jesus, that ever lived), was also allowed to become a collector. But his collections serve to teach us the emptiness—in view of eternity—of this world’s treasures. He collected, as it were, many things—knowledge, possessions, businesses, agricultural holdings and much more (Eccl. 12). Yet after acquiring all, Solomon characterized his collections as “vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 2:17). Worse, some of his collections turned his heart from the Lord to serve idols. He collected 1,400 chariots, immense amounts of silver and cedar, and, saddest of all, he collected 700 wives and 300 concubines. What was the result? His heart was turned away after other gods, bringing Jehovah’s anger and judgment upon him (1 Kings 11).
Oh! may we, like the Apostle Paul, value everything in comparison to the incomparable Christ—our truly priceless Treasure (Phil. 3:8)!
Ed.