Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Jesus, priceless treasure,
Source of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me,
Long my heart hath panted,
Till it well-nigh fainted,
Thirsting after Thee.
Thine I am, O spotless Lamb,
I will suffer naught to hide Thee,
Ask for naught beside Thee.
In Thine arm I rest me;
Foes who would molest me
Cannot reach me here.
Though the earth be shaking,
Every heart be quaking,
God dispels our fear;
Sin and hell in conflict fell
With their heaviest storms assail us;
Jesus will not fail us.
Hence, all thoughts of sadness!
For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in;
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within;
Yea, whate’er we here must bear,
Still in Thee lies purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure!
Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)
JESUS TOLD a story about a man who found treasure buried in a field. The man sold all he had to buy that field. A merchant found a pearl of great price and sold his fortune to claim it. That, Jesus said, is what the kingdom of God is all about—giving up everything to gain eternity.
A rich man came to Jesus and asked what he had to do in order to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all he had and give it to the poor, then he could come and follow Jesus.
Such a complete sacrifice scares most of us. We cling to our possessions and relationships and habits. We can’t imagine life without them. We assume that a life totally sold out to Jesus would be dry and joyless. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Jesus is our “purest pleasure.” Possessions rust and wear out, but Jesus gives joy forever.
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.
Psalm 63:1-2
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