Thursday, September 29, 2011
Matthew 13:44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
LIKE A TREASURE
There are some who go looking and some who stumble upon it, but in either case there are some who understand the value of God's kingdom and consider it well worth the sacrifice to give up all else for this one treasure.
Jesus is no doubt building here on His previous parables. Whereas the kingdom looks small and unassuming, it is full of power. Whereas it may seem as insignificant as a mustard seed, its true worth is beyond anything else on this earth.
It is an easy thing in our minds to condemn those who put riches and fortunes above God's kingdom, but we too need to put riches and fortunes in their proper place. Yet to forsake the material things for the sake of Christ means not just putting money and fame second to God's kingdom, but also giving such things as family, friends, love and marriage (as precious as these things are) a lower place than God. For these do not reach the same heights as the treasure of God's kingdom either.
Yet when we know within ourselves that we do not treasure the kingdom the way we ought; when we know that we fail to rejoice in His riches, we do not, as is the manner of some, need to attempt all manners of "godly" works or self-punishment or inner exercise to give peace to our hearts. Rather we acknowledge that we are sinful and do not always understand what a treasure God's word is, then we are simply glad to hear that treasure remind us, "Christ died even for this sin."
