Better Than Gold

I decided it would be fun to have an addendum to the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Gold came to mind. We’ve all heard the Irish tale about the pot of gold hidden at the end of a rainbow. A leprechaun stands guard over the gold coins he has unearthed throughout the year and placed in a pot. Each leprechaun has his own pot of gold.

Humans who are lucky enough to spot a leprechaun by chasing a rainbow still face the issue of catching him. Folklore says you must catch the leprechaun to retrieve the pot of gold. But leprechauns have the magical ability to disappear. Somehow, if they do get caught, they must grant three wishes.

Aside from the trickster leprechaun, there is also the issue of the rainbow having no “end.” Science tells us that the arch shape is an illusion. Looking at it from the ground, we only see light reflected by rain above the horizon. From up in the air, one can see a rainbow’s 360-degree circular shape.

There is a morsel of truth to the pot of gold, though. Bits of gold were often stumbled upon in plowed fields after an especially heavy rainfall. The gold looked like a small, concave disc. When it rained, water pooled in the concave cup, reflecting the sun and making the coins easier to spot. Popular belief held that rainbows left coins behind wherever they touched the earth.    

So . . . I guess we can forget about finding that pot of gold, huh? Or can we? Read on.

The Precedent  

Gold is mentioned in every book of the Bible except 23. The first time is in the second chapter of Genesis, it says that gold could be found in the land near the river. Even then, gold was associated with wealth and prosperity. Royalty came to possess gold but so did several isolated individuals, including Abram, Balak, Hiram, and David.

Gold was found in a variety of places during biblical times:

• Battlefield (e.g., shields, chains, chariots)
• Architecture (e.g., molding, nails)
• Furnishings
• Marketplace (coins)
• Jewelry (e.g., rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches, filigree settings)
• Garments for the priests (breastpiece, bells attached to the hem)
• Thread
• Ornaments
• Pagan idols

Other Than Wealth

Gold can symbolize something other than wealth. Let’s look at some of those ways. Gold represents spiritual value, often serving as a metaphor for faith and treasures from God. It is frequently associated with purity and holiness. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold, showcasing a divine presence. The wilderness sanctuary contained many utensils made of or overlaid with gold: dishes, pans, jars, bowls, a lampstand, snuffers, hooks/clasps for curtains, drinking vessels, and pitchers.

King Solomon’s riches illustrate God’s blessings. Gold is often linked with divine favor. Much of the gold given to Solomon, especially from the region of Ophir, was used in the construction of the Temple. Furnishings and vessels made of gold highlighted reverence and devotion toward God. Material beauty and spiritual significance are connected by the elegance of gold, teaching us that God’s holiness is to be honored through offerings and devotion.   

In the New Testament, gold was presented as a gift to the Baby Jesus by the magi, symbolizing His kingship, divinity, authority, and glory. This points us to another representation of gold: worship and sacredness.

Cultural and economic significance can be found in gold. Power was recognized when gold was present.

Better Than Gold

While gold is physically valuable, its ultimate treasures are spiritual. This truth is illustrated in a parable about hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44). “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.” The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price emphasizes the incomparable worth of the Kingdom of Heaven and how it should be prioritized above all else. In Matthew 13:45-46, a merchant sells all he has to acquire a valuable pearl – something found through extensive searching.    

Here are some specific things identified in the Bible as being better than gold: ordinances and law of the Lord, wisdom, knowledge, and a good name.

Faith, wisdom, and a life devoted to God bring greater wealth than gold. “You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith – more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:6-7).

Gold doesn’t last. “Your silver and gold are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days!” (James 5:3)

Eternal riches trump earthly possessions—every time.