All in ∙

All in ∙

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. – Matthew 13:44

Matthew 13:44-46

 44 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

 45 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.

 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

The story of the California Gold Rush captured the imagination of people around the world. Those seeking gold came to be called the 49ers. They traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to seek their fortune. It is estimated that 100,000 people made the trip to California. Many obtained unbelievable wealth. Others not so much. In the middle of “nowhere,” there were no banks or safety deposit boxes to store wealth, so many simply buried it. Much of it remains to be found.

In 2013, the Saddle Ridge Gold Coin Hoard was discovered in the Gold Country of the Sierra Nevada, California. While taking their dog for a walk, a couple noticed a partially buried can jutting out of the ground on their property. The can was unusually heavy. Numerous $20 U.S. gold pieces were inside when they opened the lid. A total of eight cans were eventually unearthed with an assessment of $10 million.

What would you do if you were to stumble across something of great value? Finding treasure allows you to do well and, perhaps more importantly, do good.

When the man in the story found a great treasure in the field, he hid it again and went to buy the property. The value of what he was about to receive was far greater than what he already had. So, he willingly and eagerly sold all he had and bought the field (Matthew 13:44).

The Lord Jesus Christ tells of a great treasure accessible to all. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The kingdom of heaven has value beyond all measure and will be well worth the complete and total investment of our resources and time.

What is the kingdom of heaven? This has been debated down through the centuries. A kingdom of any kind has a ruler, a location, and people. Thus the kingdom of heaven is simply understood as a place where the Father is the sovereign King.

To gain this treasure, we give up our pride and our past with all of the sins that we recall that still haunt us. We receive total and complete forgiveness when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ desires that all of the children of the King be cleansed and purged. He offers a whole new way of life as we follow Him. We simply do not have to look back anymore.

There is no end to the treasure the Father offers. We encounter great riches beyond our wildest imaginations as we pursue the Father and His purposes. The Father Himself has infinite, boundless, unfathomable value and worth. The greatest treasure is knowing Him and experiencing the joy of being in His presence.

Ephesians 2:7 in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

REFLECT & PRAY

To be in a place where a gentle, kind, generous, and just leader is in charge is the not-so-secret longing of countless human hearts.

Father thank You that You have called me into Your kingdom, and now I can genuinely call You Father because I am Your child. Encourage me to pursue Your purposes and goals.

INSIGHT

The term treasure evokes ideas of what is valued or valuable. The practice of hiding valuables in the ground is widespread. Tales of buried treasure abound through the centuries. The prospect of finding hidden treasure captures the popular imagination.

The parable of the buried treasure emphasizes the priceless value of the kingdom of God, the delight and excitement of discovering it, and the “all-in” investment required to lay claim to it.

Perhaps local flooding or erosion had exposed what had previously been hidden. In the parable, the finder of the treasure is galvanized into action by the joy of the prospect of possessing the treasure. To do so, he must first purchase the field. He has to reorient his priorities and liquidate all of his assets. Nothing less will suffice. The field is acquired, and the treasure is secured.

The “finding” is not the outcome of tremendous effort, skill, knowledge, or ability, but rather it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Opening people’s eyes so that they may enter into the kingdom is the sovereign domain of the King. His kingdom has been there all along; we just never noticed it.

A modern-day equivalent of finding treasure can be likened to shopping at flea markets or secondhand shops. The first requirement is to simply show up. It can be a great chore for some of us, while others find it quite enjoyable. Some shoppers look for visually pleasing things. Other shoppers are looking for the best price. But the more discriminating seek value.

Is there anything you value so much that you would be willing to give up all you have in exchange? That would be your ultimate treasure. And what you treasure strongly influences your motives and behavior.

Matthew 6:21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

“To be focused on treasures in heaven is to pursue those goals and activities that have eternal significance and have a relationship to God as the ultimate concern. Since one’s treasure is indicative of a person’s loyalty and inner commitment, one’s ultimate pursuit and interests provide a window to the true self (heart)” (Chouinard).

Your heart is revealed by the priorities you pursue. “What do you think about most throughout the day? What gets your heart beating fastest and loudest? What do you think you couldn’t live without? Whatever ‘it’ is, it’s your treasure – and nothing but God is worthy of it” (Stanley).

When it comes to the Father’s kingdom, are you all in?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-14-2

© Dr. H 2022