There is an old story of a man who was out in a field and discovered a very valuable hidden treasure. In joy he went and sold all he had, and with the money bought the field. Because it was his, he now owned the treasure buried in it. This made the man very happy. The value of attending church can be compared to the man finding valuable treasure in a field. The man bought the field, but what he really wanted was the treasure hidden “in the field.” The field became valuable to him because he valued what it contained.

For you, attending church may be like a field with hidden treasure.You don’t see the value of attending church until you discover the hidden treasure. Here are a few “hidden treasures” you may find by attending church regularly. This treasure will bring joy in at least two areas of your life.

In your personal life:

• Church is a place where you can turn for emotional and spiritual support. Many people are helped by turning to a community of faith.
• You will hear positive and informative messages from the Bible.
• You will make new friends who will add value to your life.
• Statistically, people who regularly attend church live three years longer than those who don’t (University of Pittsburg Medical Center Study, 2006).
• It will give you an opportunity to enrich others through your service to them. This adds more purpose to your life.

In your family life:

• Married couples who attend church regularly are happier and more likely to succeed in their marriages.
• Church can reduce the risk of your children abusing drugs and alcohol.
• Church may dramatically reduce your children’s risk of suicide.
• Church reinforces values of respect, love, service, forgiveness, discipline, and family.
• Church provides a life-long moral compass.

These family life findings are supported by research from Duke University, Indiana University, The University of Michigan, The Centers for Disease Control, Barna Research Group, and the National Institute for Healthcare Research.

As a result of regularly attending church, you could even find the most important thing - your own personal relationship with God. Why not start this week? Where can you find a church?

Find it here.