In the 1500s, Spanish conquistadores heard tales of a king who regularly coated his body with gold dust, then plunged into a nearby lake to wash it off while being showered with gold and jewels thrown by his subjects. The name “El Dorado,” Spanish for “gilded one,” and the story of the gold-covered king eventually grew into a legend of an entire city or region of enormous amounts of gold. Numerous Spanish and Portuguese treasure hunters spent the next 100 years searching vast areas of South America for the “lost city of gold.”
The legend continued to grow and other groups from every corner of the earth began looking for the fictional city. Although no evidence of an actual city of gold ever existed, treasure hunters and historians alike continue to search for El Dorado, the lost city of gold. It has been estimated that several billions of dollars have been spent by groups and individuals hoping to find the legendary city, enough money to actually make a city of gold! Additionally, hundreds of men and women have lost their lives searching the Amazon for gold.
Today the name “El Dorado” has come to mean any place of vast riches, abundance, or opportunity where wealth can be quickly and easily gained. The quest for riches continues to capture the heart and mind of many Americans. A recent survey revealed that over 50% of Americans strongly desire to be wealthy. Millions of people have spent their entire lives in a quest for riches, working long hours, neglecting their families, all for something that doesn’t really matter. Most of us are no different, spending our lives accumulating stuff that has no eternal value.
Paul, under the inspiration of God said: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Where is your treasure? What is the desire of your heart? Are you more concerned about riches on earth than treasure in Heaven? There is nothing wrong with wealth, providing it is used according to God’s will.
“Labour not to be rich: Cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” (Proverbs 23:4-5)
WOULD YOU DO FOR GOD WHAT YOU WOULD DO FOR GOLD?