Treasure

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Matthew 13:44

Treasure is an easily understood concept. Whether you are talking about money, jewels, relationships, or anything else, everyone knows that a treasure is something precious and very valuable. The most foundational thing that we should see in this parable is that Jesus is telling us that the kingdom of heaven is a treasure. It is the most valuable thing that we could ever possess or partake in.

We live in an increasingly consumerism-based society. People buy and sell goods based on personal desire or preference. When those preferences change, the markets change. Unfortunately, many view the church and discipleship with this mentality. Rather than seeking first the kingdom of God, many seek a kingdom that looks like they want it to look. Even though Jesus said that HIS kingdom is not of this world, there is a strong push to make it look more like the world.

This is dangerous.

One of the most dangerous things to consider is that God’s people are being betrayed by things that do not bring true joy because those things are not part of the true kingdom. They are passionate and devote time, money, and other resources to something that ends up disappointing them. They then think that it was God that let them down. It was not God that let them down, it was a false definition of the kingdom of Christ that disappointed them.

Jesus taught that, in the first century, the kingdom was a treasure. Whatever was present then should be sufficient for us in the 21st century to find joy and peace. The cycle of devotion and dissatisfaction that we see in modern church practices does not sound much like a treasure that one would refuse to let go! The simplicity of the New Testament worship service was a treasure to believers in the 1st century. It might behoove us here in the 21st century to strip away all the worldly elements and entertainment and find that treasure hidden!

On the other end of the spectrum from those that are passionate (albeit about the wrong things) are those that seem almost indifferent to the kingdom. The consumerism mentality also affects this. People treat church as something they do at their convenience or when they feel the need. Public worship is commanded by God, and He deserves our praise! Further, if someone truly sees how much Christ has done for them, that is a treasure worth celebrating at least once a week!