"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!" There is nothing more helpful at this time to the tempted and tried believer than to have before him the value of that which God gives freely to His people. The world never gave so much to its votaries, has never more completely blinded men to the insensate folly of being indifferent to Him, or of rejecting Christ and His mercies. Never before in the world's history was man's pleasure so ministered to as now. Costly luxuries are made accessible to multitudes who could never before enjoy them. There are innumerable devices to fill the heart and keep it from realizing its emptiness without Christ.

But God has for faith revelations of what Christ is to His people, the wonderful infinite satisfaction and rest of heart to be found in knowing God here in this world of sin. He has nothing for unbelief but darkness, nothing for those who are determined to resist Him and reject His love; but the moment any one listens to His call, the instant any heart turns toward His voice, He is ready to give out all that any soul needs. It is a great discovery to find that God has that which can fully satisfy the heart of every person; yea, far more than that! Human language is far too poor to express what God has for those who love and trust Him.

A thousand years before Christ came God was telling men what He had to give to them, putting His message in words which appeal to the hearts of all mankind. Hear His words:

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
And the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver,
And the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies:
And ALL THE THINGS THOU CANST DESIRE ARE NOT TO BE
COMPARED UNTO HER.
Length of days is in her right hand;
And in her left hand riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:
And happy is every one that retaineth her" (Prov. 3:13-18).

Who but God could use such language? "For wisdom is better than rubies:and all the things that may BE DESIRED ARE NOT TO BE COMPARED TO IT" (Prov. 8:11).

That which is more valuable than silver, gold, and precious stones must be of very great worth, for these are what mankind count as their greatest treasures, but when it is asserted that, "All the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it," we have a most astonishing statement. Even if it had been said that all the things which men desire could not equal it, that would have been an extraordinary statement, but Scripture goes very much farther and asserts that, "All the things that may be desired are not [even] to be compared with it." Yet that is twice announced, to make it doubly emphatic.

For three thousand years those words have been before the world challenging unbelief. They have brought God's great gift before millions of people, and they are being proved to be truth to-day by great multitudes. God is saying to mankind everywhere, "I am offering you that which is better and of incomparably greater worth than all the things that may be desired." Think of what you would like to possess. Let your desires run riot. Then know of a surety that God is offering you that which is of far greater value than anything your finite mind can imagine.

There are very many poor in all lands-many even in this most favored land-but here is greater and more lasting wealth than the human mind ever dreamed of. But it cannot be earned, cannot be bought. God sells blessings or goodly possessions to no one. This is His gift. Hear what He says:

"If any of you lack wisdom; let him ask of God that giveth to all freely, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering [doubting]" (James 1:5,6).

Is not God abundantly able to keep His promises? Here He is promising that which He gives freely, and which is worth more than anything you can desire. One part of this gift is confidence in God, trusting His love, believing in Him. What does God value most as revealed in His Word? The Son of His love (Col. 1:13) is God's greatest treasure. Christ said to the Father, "Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world." Again, He said of all who believe in Him:"Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me" (John 17:23,24). Christ and those believing in Him have the highest place in God's love. Can you trust yourself in God's hands? Can you trust Him to give you whatever you need? Can you, do you, have such confidence in God that you willingly, without fear, place yourself in His care, commit all your cares and interests entirely to Him?

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son;" that is one statement. "Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me," is another. You are in one of these two companies; either in and of the world, or you are one of Christ's own by faith in Him. If you are still of the world, God loved you, still loves you. Will you, do you, take God as your Father and Christ as your Saviour? If you do this, then you have that wonderful wisdom that is of such exceeding value, Any thing, or all the things, that you can desire of this world cannot be compared, with that which you possess if Christ is yours, and you will be able to cry out, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift!" J. W. Newton