[Jesus speaking]
Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

As I think about hoarders, initially it seems a bit strange that some people would have such a desire to keep things they will never use. When I have sat down and talked with some of them here is some of what I have heard: 1) They attach their memories, feelings, and even friendships to these items, and 2) If they part with them, they feel like they might be letting someone down who gifted them the item. Clearly, hoarders have an extreme attachment to these items and are on the far end of the spectrum.

As we look at this parable today, keep in mind that the ten silver coins in Jewish culture likely represented a wedding gift that a bride received, in similar fashion to a wedding ring today. These coins had far more sentimental value than they did monetary value. Wives today cherish their wedding rings and will go to unbelievable lengths to find a lost one. I can imagine that the ring brings back memories of the courtship, the wedding and honeymoon, and all the good times throughout the marriage that are associated with it. It is not only pretty to look at, but it represents belonging to another like a wife belongs to a husband (or like a husband belongs to a wife). It is the one thing that shows they are one in marriage with someone, someone who highly values them, and will go to extreme lengths to love, provide, protect, and serve them in life.

Couple that with some of the cultural differences back then: woman could not typically vote, have property, or did not have much societal stature outside of their husband’s name; and now we begin to understand the impact losing these coins might have had on a woman back then.

He is telling us this: all of that memory attachment — all of that value, meaning, and belonging — that a wedding ring or the silver coins represent to a woman … It is like the value and belonging God feels for his children. When one of his followers has lost their way, he will come in power, in might, in wisdom, and in skill to their aid!

It is so comforting to know that I belong to the God of the universe and he values me as highly as a woman values her husband and their union (and reality is, he values us so much more). What peace and assurance are found in this truth! What joy I can have in any circumstance by knowing that my loving Father will not allow me to stay lost or forgotten or attacked or injured for long. He will move heaven and earth to come to my aid!

I love the promises God makes to his people here in Haggai:
“But now BE STRONG, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘BE STRONG, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. BE STRONG, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I AM WITH YOU,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I WILL once more SHAKE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I WILL GRANT PEACE,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” (‭‭Haggai‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭9‬)

We rest in this promise my friends: We who follow him … WE BELONG TO HIM! And he will not stop until he comes to our aid. We belong to one who is MIGHTY and FAITHFUL!

LORD, you are truly the rock I stand on, in the waves and storms of this life. You are solid, faithful, and nothing can snatch me out of your hands. I will choose to allow these truths to replace the concerns of the day and stay on your rock amidst chaos in this life. You shine in darkness, you surge in power in times of trial, you show up in force when the enemy is the strongest! You are always my protector, my provider, my rescuer, my Lord, and my friend!