Skip to main content

Of Treasures In Fields

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46)

 

C. S. Lewis wrote that our desires are not strong enough. We are like children contented with playing in the mud in our yards because we cannot imagine going to the shore and building sand castles.

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. According to the law, that treasure belonged to whoever owned the field, so the man who found it was making his acquisition of the treasure legal, but he had to sell everything he had to buy the field. It was a short-term loss of lesser possessions to gain a greater. We think we understand this, because we think we’d do it if we found a treasure. But we haven’t found a treasure.

Maybe we have the wrong hobbies. If we head a metal detector, collected beach glass, prospected for gold, silver, or gems, or even did genealogy, we might understand the idea of finding a treasure a little better. But let’s get back to the important point. Heaven is the treasure. Quite honestly, I don’t think most of us can get our minds around that. Yeah- streets of gold and all that wonderful stuff, but the real treasure of Heaven is God, and we just don’t get that. Rubies and diamonds are easy to imagine. God isn’t.

But the second comparison is what really got my attention today. We get it so wrong. At least I have gotten it so wrong. I read the first comparison:  Heaven is like a treasure. I read the second comparison: Heaven is like a pearl. In both cases, the hunter sells everything to gain the treasure. But do you see the error? It doesn’t say that the kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl. It says the kingdom of God is like a merchant looking for pearls. When God finds one, He sold everything He had and bought it.

What did God sell? His Son. He couldn’t sell the kingdom of Heaven or Himself because that would be impossible. But if His Son took the form of a human, God could exchange Him for all the pearls. It’s the same price, no matter how many pearls are involved, but it was the ultimate price paid for each one.

But then, most of us can’t imagine ourselves as a treasured pearl any more than we can imagine heaven as a treasure.

Lord, teach us how to treasure Heaven, for it is where You are. Teach us to imagine ourselves as a treasure that You have found.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more