Faith More Precious Than Gold

Quite a long time ago (it’s getting longer and longer as I grow older!), my mom and dad gave me a beautiful gold ring for one of my birthdays.

This cherished piece of jewelry holds a special place in my heart, and I think of them whenever I wear it.

The unique design resembles a flower, featuring a small pearl surrounded by tiny sapphires.

You can’t put a price on a memory like this.

To borrow an expression, for me this ring is “worth more than gold.”

Gold is a precious metal with too many uses to even count.

From shining gold jewelry creations to a valuable alloy used for fillings at your local dentist, gold has great value for many reasons.

Check out this striking “replica” of a gold nugget on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, MA. (The original was eventually melted down.)

I don’t know if you can read the sign, but the original gold nugget weighed 152 pounds and was later sold for $21,000.

That just gives you an idea of the value.

Do you know what is even more valuable than gold?

The Bible tells us.

The following passage from 1 Peter 1:6-9 describes the importance of having unwavering faith during our trials.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁸obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:6-9, (NASB).²

More Precious Than Gold: The Purpose of Suffering

The melting point of gold is well over 1900 degrees Fahrenheit.³

Remarkably, fire doesn’t destroy the gold during the refining process, in fact, it makes it even more pure and valuable.

Have you heard of the refiners fire?

Just as with purifying gold, our steadfast faith – when tested by “fiery” trials – refines and purifies us.

We can rejoice, not because of the suffering we go through, but because our future is secure through Jesus.

Gold does not fear the fire, and neither should we.

# # #

---

¹ Source Credit, [2023] Courtesy of Anatoli Lvov, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. “The Welcome Nugget. ” Web. Accessed 18 April, 2025.

² Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

³ Source Credit, Article by Dr. Andrew A. Snelling (PhD, Geology, Research Director at Answers in Genesis – USA).  “Gold – A Little Bit Of Heaven On Earth.” Courtesy of Answersingenesis.org. para.29. Web. Accessed 20th, April, 2025. Retrieved from: Melting Point of Gold