The Greatest Treasure
Matthew 13:44 contains some of the most impactful imagery in all of Scripture...
Just imagine for a moment: You are walking across a field and stumble upon an ancient treasure, forgotten by the whole world. You realize the plot of land is for sale. What would you do? How quickly would you sell everything you have to buy the field with the treasure? Fast? Of course! You’ve found something of great value, worth so much more than anything you had before!
Jesus uses this imagery to illustrate the Kingdom of heaven. When you discover the true value of something like that, you give all you have to grab hold of it, to be part of it, to have it for yourself.
And what is the Kingdom of heaven?
The Kingdom of heaven is God’s will on earth. It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that we can be set free from sin and walk in His mercy and grace. The Kingdom of heaven is right now, and it's an invitation to you.
Have you discovered it? The joy, energy, excitement of finding priceless treasure in a field is what it feels like to realize that you are invited to be part of the Kingdom of God. Take a moment to take that in. You are invited. Have you said ‘yes’? Will you?
Because when you say ‘yes,’ the value of anything else simply does not match the value of this Kingdom. The scripture doesn’t say that the man went to sell all he had to buy the field in sorrow, uncertainty, or fear. It says he went in joy.
He went in joy because the treasure he found was so incredible—And he got to be part of it. You do, too.
Proverbs 16
English Standard Version
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.[a]
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
10 An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do ...