BY DAWN REED
Last weekend, my beloved and I watched in horror as rescue workers in Laos safely evacuated four men who had been trapped in a flooded cave for over a week.
The video showed incredibly narrow openings where they had to turn sideways to squeeze through. It smothered us just watching. (One source claimed some chambers measured only 20 inches.) The rescued men were covered in mud. They were weak from the experience and from the relief of being saved.
I was bewildered. “Why on earth would they have gone in that cave?” I wondered aloud as we watched the footage of their rescue. The announcer went on: “They were searching for gold.”
Ohhhh.
Seven men had chased a dream of gold. They put themselves in danger, hoping to become rich. While digging for treasure, torrential rains came. Flash flooding blocked the exit. They were trapped. One of the seven got out in time and went for help. Two miners are still missing.
I’m not a thrill seeker. You won’t see me posting on social media about climbing Mount Everest, sailing around the world, bungee jumping or skydiving. I am a wife, a mother and work with children. My life is exciting enough, thank you very much. The thought of spelunking through a dangerously narrow cave for gold sounds ridiculous to me. Yet, I have made other really stupid decisions.
When we chase the wrong things, we can end up in dangerous places. Especially when it leads us away from God.
Matthew 19:16-22 tells the story of a man who wanted to earn eternal life.
“What do I need to do?” he asked Jesus.
Jesus told him to obey the commandments. After some back and forth, He told the man, “…go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
“When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
The man preferred to chase money instead of Jesus.
The Bible shares stories about what to pursue. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to chase God: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Not money, but the love of money. “Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Trapped in a flooded cave for days, in the dark, without food or hope. Those would be considered “many griefs.”
“But you, man of God,” Paul continued, “flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
Run away from greed and chase the good things.
The one man in Laos escaped before it was too late. He went for help. Had he not turned around, they would still be looking for the miners. Be brave enough to know when to stop following the crowd.
Each week, I email an article to my editors. Before I hit SEND, I pray for them to have wisdom, to have the courage to do what is right, and to chase Jesus.
That is also my prayer for you, dear reader. Let us chase Him together.