“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46).
an you imagine finding something that would be valu- able enough to sell everything you have to buy it? I mean everything—your house, your car, your television, or
any other possessions. Something in our human nature wants to believe that a pot of gold can be found at the end of the rainbow, and some are always searching for it. Some folks feel like they have found hidden treasure when they win the lottery and become an instant millionaire, or maybe a rich relative dies and leaves them a fortune. Most people though, when they think they’ve found their hidden treasure, take it and buy more things to bring them joy. Or, so they think.The problem with those “things” is that they, too, get old. Soon, the individual will have a desire to replace them.
Jesus used parables to get people to understand the truth of what He was trying to teach them. I believe what Jesus is saying to us in this parable is that the kingdom of God requires our highest commitment. The Kingdom is worth more than any other thing that we might pursue.The Kingdom is not of this earth, so it’s hard to understand with an earthly mind.We must seek to understand it by spiritual means, and we must live it out in our daily walk with Him.We must give up our own wishes and, sometimes even our own dreams, for His.
We must completely sell out our own fleshly desires to inherit
the kingdom of God. Our pursuit of the Kingdom must be to always seek to do the will of the Father. Jesus gave His all to secure the Kingdom for us, and we must seek His heart and His mind.We must seek His righteousness.
Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I don’t want to be tied to this earth by ma- terial possessions or things that hold my heart. I’m excited to know where my treasure is. All the godly things I do here are sent on ahead to be added to my treasure in heaven. I’m sending up treasure each time I sell out my desire to be self- centered in order to help someone who needs me. Each time I want my way, and I sell out to God’s way, I’m sending up trea- sure.After it’s been sent, nothing and no one can steal it away.
Paula’s Prayer
Lord, I want Your kingdom. I want my treasures to be heavenly, not earthly. I know the things of real value are things that could never be bought with money. I want my heart to be where my treasures are located—heaven. Help me to remember that I must hold loosely to earthly things.
They have only temporary value.
Amen.
