Crushing Rocks Looking For Diamonds

It was a Thursday afternoon, 3:30pm. We’d just arrived home after picking up my four-year-old son from preschool. He had a bag full of “treasure” (more on that another time—believe me, plenty to unpack), which included quite a hefty amount of rocks.

And he was adamant there were diamonds in those rocks.

At some point during the day, one of his teachers must have mentioned that diamonds come from rocks. Jury’s still out on whether I should hold them accountable for this little drama, but I digress.

My son is a wonderfully joyful little boy, but when he gets something in his head… well. There is simply no other option.

After much debate, I fetched his real-life hammer so he could start smashing rocks and “retrieving” his diamonds.

I went upstairs to get dinner started—or so I thought. I hadn’t even finished unpacking the dishwasher when I heard screaming. Not crying. Screaming.

I ran downstairs to a distraught little boy.

“There’s no diamonds!!!”

“Oh buddy, I did explain there weren’t any diamonds in those rocks. They’re just dirt, bud.”

“But I… WANT… DIAMONDS!”

Don’t we all, I thought, biting my tongue and holding back laughter at the situation.

I gave him a hug. He calmed down, regrouped, and decided to try again. Maybe the first rocks weren’t the right ones.

So I waited for the aftermath. And it came.

Tears streaming down his face.

He just couldn’t comprehend why his rocks—rocks he’d been told held diamonds—didn’t.

We sat together, and I explained that diamonds are hard to find and very expensive. I showed him my wedding ring, which only led to more tears as I then had to explain why he couldn’t have my treasure—my diamond—that one was for me.

He was heartbroken. Truly. He had been sold a lie.

Haven’t we all?

We laugh at the innocence of a child’s optimistic, yet misplaced, expectation of treasure.

But how often do we do the same?

We are all just smashing rocks, searching for treasure that can’t be bought or found.

Oh, we look for treasure everywhere—relationships, status, wealth, health, lusts, addictions, fame. We smash rocks all over the place, only to be left wanting. Sold a lie by the enemy that this—this will finally be enough. But it’s not. It never is.

No amount of things, recognition, acceptance or elation can give us the fulfilment we truly long for.

In the end, it all seems as pointless as smashing rocks in the driveway, hoping to find diamonds.

So where does this leave us?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)

Have you stored up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (Matt. 6:19)? Or are you like the man who found a field with hidden treasure and, in joy, sold everything he had to buy it and keep it? (Matt. 13:44).

The greatest treasure you will ever find is Jesus.

Don’t let the lies of this world trick you into wasting your life smashing rocks, only to be left with tear-stained cheeks.

Seek the one who gives life everlasting, who will wipe away every tear (Rev 21:14)—the one who preserves life and gives us a great possession. Don’t let the worries of this life distract you from the real treasure found in Jesus Christ.

Seek his kingdom…

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:31–32)

And with all this, remember who you are in Christ:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Little jars of clay—broken, sometimes wandering, often distracted, a little dirty on the outside—yet somehow beholding a treasure that far outweighs them all.

That’s the diamond I want. The only one that won’t leave me longing for more.