THE TREASURE IN DISGUISE

A Deep Thoughts Devotional Story
© Opeyemi Akintunde
As Inspired by the LIVING WORD

Before Dara became known for her small but thriving fruit business, she was simply a young woman trying to help her mother sell oranges and pineapples by the roadside.

Every morning, she arranged the fruits neatly, wiped the tables, and prayed for customers. One thing about Dara, she treated every customer with the same warm smile. Whether it was a schoolboy buying one banana or a rich woman buying a whole basket, she attended to them with joy.

One hot afternoon, as the sun showed no mercy, three rough-looking teenagers walked toward her stand. Their slippers were worn out, their shirts torn, and their hair dusty. Dara’s heart skipped, she had been robbed before, so she instinctively became alert.

Before she could think too much, the boys grabbed chairs without asking and sat down. One picked up an orange, tossed it in the air playfully, and said loudly, “This one sweet?”

Dara forced a smile, “Yes, very sweet. You can taste it.”

They laughed, chatted, asked unnecessary questions, and wasted her time or so she thought. Still, she kept her cool. She peeled the oranges for them, offered water to wash their hands, and answered their jokes with patience.

After a while, the quiet one among them stood up.
“How much for the whole table?” he asked.

Dara blinked. “The… whole table?”

He nodded. “Yes, everything. How much?”

She stuttered the amount.

“Okay,” he said calmly. “Follow us.”

Her heart raced. Follow them to where?

They stepped aside toward a clean black SUV parked under a mango tree. From the car stepped out a well-dressed older man. The quiet boy handed him a list of fruits.

“Daddy, she treats people well,” he said. “Even when we looked like trouble.”

The man smiled, pulled out a thick envelope, and gave Dara more than the cost—far more.

“It’s for the event we’re hosting,” he explained. “My sons were passing by and wanted to test who treats people with dignity.”

Her legs almost gave way.

Later, she learned that the man owned a chain of supermarkets across the state. That one encounter opened doors, he began buying fruits from her weekly for his stores, changing her business forever.

But here’s the twist…

The week before, another elegant-looking woman had come to her stand, boasting about her connections and promising to link her to “big buyers” if she would “cooperate.” Something felt wrong. Dara followed the Holy Spirit’s nudge and refused. She later learned the woman was well-known for duping small traders.

Two different people.
Two different appearances.
Two different outcomes.

One looked like nothing—but carried her breakthrough.
One looked like everything—but came with trouble.

God does not judge by appearances, and He warns us not to, either.
Many blessings come disguised.
Many traps come decorated.

Treat people with dignity. Honor all.
Never decide someone’s worth based on their clothes, status, or presentation.
The person you look down on today may be the very vessel God has sent to lift you tomorrow.

KEY SCRIPTURE:
James 2:1–5

PRAYER POINTS:

Lord, help me see people through Your eyes, not through outward appearances.

Father, keep me sensitive to the Holy Spirit so I don’t reject my blessings or embrace deception.

Lord, give me a heart of love, humility, and discernment in all my interactions.

🕊️ Follow Us: www.deepthoughtsintl.org

📘 Facebook: @Opeyemi Akintunde
📷 Instagram: @OpeyemiAkintunde
📺 YouTube: @Deep Thoughts TV

✍️ DEEP THOUGHTS DEVOTIONALS
Inspired by the TRUTH REVEALER
Written by Opeyemi Akintunde
📞 Contact: +234-8151103646