In 1715, a fleet of a dozen treasure ships departing from Cuba set sail for Spain.

In the hopes of diverting pirates, the crew headed home during hurricane season. Just a week into their journey, eleven of the ships went down in a horrific storm. Gold, silver, pearls, and emeralds spilled into the ocean, and the risky pursuit sent 1,500 sailors into the cold Atlantic waters.

Life has another treasure out there for us to attain. A better one. A risk-free, life-giving one. As today’s verse says: “the fear of the Lord is our treasure.”

Isaiah, Moses, David, Matthew, John, and a host of other Bible heroes all remind us there is nothing on this earth we need to fear. Fear is not from God. When you know your destiny is in the hands of the all-knowing, all-loving God, nothing can rival His plans.

Though we all struggle with fear, we are encouraged to calm our pounding hearts and trust.

“Worry won’t add a day to your life,” Matthew 6:27 says.

Fearing worldly monsters gains us nothing, but fearing God does. Respecting Him enough to stop and listen, to obey, to follow His plan for us is good for our lives. Respect for Him is the treasure that makes our lives rich. No one can steal that.