HIDDEN RICHES OF THE HEART

The Morison’s family was known for their unwavering faith and strong values. Mr. and Mrs. Morison had dedicated their lives to instilling godly principles in their children, raising them to honor God and cherish honesty, respect, and hard work. They lived modestly but comfortably, and though they couldn’t provide every luxury for their children, they gave them a foundation of faith that was worth far more.

Among their children, their son Daniel was a bright young man, full of potential. He was intelligent, quick-witted, and had a natural charm that made him popular among his peers. But despite the diligent guidance of his parents, there was something in Daniel that didn’t quite reflect the godly values of his family. Although he attended church with them and responded confidently when they asked about his faith, there was a distance in his heart. He often pretended to be devout, answering with a smile and agreeing with his parents’ advice, but deep down, Daniel’s life and beliefs were far from sincere.

When his school break came to an end, Daniel prepared to return to university, and his father, Mr. Morison, gave him the usual advice with a loving but concerned look. “Daniel, my son, remember to hold onto God’s word. Read your Bible regularly, and trust in Him to guide you,” he said.

“Yes, Dad,” Daniel replied, nodding confidently. “I always do.”

Mr. Morison held Daniel’s gaze for a moment longer. He knew his son was pretending. His fatherly intuition told him that Daniel wasn’t as committed to his faith as he wanted them to believe. But instead of calling him out, Mr. Morison came up with an idea that he hoped would teach Daniel a valuable lesson.

The morning Daniel was set to return to school, Mr. Morison handed him a small amount of money and told him he would send him more later in the semester to cover his expenses. Daniel took it without complaint, though he had been hoping for a larger sum. He packed his things, kissed his mother goodbye, and assured his parents once more that he’d remember to read his Bible every day.

What Daniel didn’t know was that, the night before, his father had taken his Bible, tucked it carefully into his suitcase, and slipped a substantial amount of money between its pages. It was enough to cover his needs for the entire semester. Mr. Morison figured that if Daniel truly followed their guidance and read his Bible as he claimed, he would soon discover the money. If not, he would continue to ask for financial support — and that would be all the proof his father needed.

Daniel arrived at university and settled back into his routine, quickly tossing his Bible into the corner of his desk. Weeks passed, and life was good. He went to class, spent time with friends, and used up the money his father had given him on entertainment and small luxuries. Soon, however, Daniel’s funds began to run out.

One evening, he decided to call his parents to request more money. He dialed his father’s number, half-expecting that Mr. Morison would scold him for being so quick to spend what he’d been given. But, to his surprise, his father only asked him a single question.

“Daniel,” his father’s voice was calm and measured, “are you reading your Bible regularly, as I advised you?”

“Yes, Dad,” Daniel replied confidently, masking his irritation. “I’ve been reading it every day.”

His father was quiet for a moment. “Good to know,” he said. “Keep reading, and trust that God will provide.”

Daniel hung up, frustrated. He didn’t understand why his father was so insistent on the Bible. Can’t he see that I need money? he thought to himself. How is reading the Bible going to help me with that?

Days passed, and Daniel’s need for money grew. He was getting desperate. Again, he called home, and again, his father asked him if he was reading his Bible.

“Of course, Dad,” he lied. “I read it all the time.”

“Very well, then,” his father replied, once again refusing to send him any more funds.

Daniel was beginning to feel panicked. His friends couldn’t lend him money, and he didn’t have anyone else to turn to. He became increasingly annoyed with his father’s insistence on reading the Bible, as if that would magically solve all his problems.

Finally, a few days later, his father showed up unexpectedly at his dorm. Daniel was both relieved and nervous to see him, hoping he’d brought some money and worried that he might be in trouble for his poor spending habits.

After exchanging a few words, Mr. Morison looked at his son, his expression both firm and compassionate. “Daniel,” he said quietly, “bring me your Bible.”

Daniel’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t touched the Bible since he’d arrived at school, let alone opened it. But he went to his desk, grabbed the Bible from where it had been collecting dust, and brought it to his father.

“Open it,” Mr. Morison instructed, his gaze unwavering.

Daniel hesitated, then slowly opened the Bible. As he flipped through the pages, his eyes widened with shock. Hidden within its pages was a large stack of money — the money he had been so desperately asking for. His hands began to shake as he looked up at his father, who was watching him with a mixture of disappointment and sadness.

“Daniel,” his father said softly, “you told me you’d been reading your Bible every day.”

Shame washed over him as he realized the depth of his lie. His father had given him everything he needed from the very beginning, but his own neglect, his disregard for his father’s advice, had blinded him to it. The truth was staring back at him, painful and undeniable.

Tears pricked Daniel’s eyes as he struggled to find his voice. “Dad… I’m so sorry. I thought I didn’t need to read it. I thought…” He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Mr. Morison placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, his voice firm but gentle. “Daniel, sometimes in life, we think we know better than those who’ve come before us. But God’s wisdom is greater than our own, and the teachings in that book are there to guide you, to keep you from making mistakes that could ruin your life. I wanted you to see that sometimes the answers we seek are already within reach. But we need to be humble enough to look for them.”

Daniel looked down, feeling the weight of his father’s words. “I’m so sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t have lied. I understand now. I’ll read my Bible, truly. I know I need to change.”

Mr. Morison nodded, a small smile of relief on his face. “Remember, son, that everything you need in this life isn’t always about money or possessions. Sometimes, the greatest treasures are found in the lessons we learn, in the wisdom we gain, and in the faith we build. And I pray that this experience will help you grow into the man you’re meant to be.”

Daniel nodded, deeply moved. He hugged his father, grateful for the forgiveness he didn’t deserve, and for a second chance. From that day forward, he resolved to honor his father’s teachings, not just with empty words but with a sincere heart. He learned that life’s real riches were not in material things but in wisdom, honesty, and faith.

And every day, without fail, Daniel opened his Bible — not just to find treasure, but to understand the values his parents had instilled in him, values he had once taken for granted but now cherished more than anything money could buy.