Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Matthew 13:44
"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."

This verse is one of the kingdom parables that is found in Matthew 13. It is the precious words of my Savior, and as such, I would do well to attend unto it.

Here is put forth a simile. A likeness in order to describe better the thing that is compared to another. Usually, the new thing of which the likeness is being compared to is more familiar. And in this case, this is true for me.

Imagine myself walking down the street on a hot day, and while I am walking I come across an abandoned field, perhaps 200 acres of land with a for sale sign on it. On this land, I look and a little ways off of the road, and onto the land is a perfect shaded spot, with a lone solitary tree that casts wonderful, dark and deep shadows. So I wander onto the property and find shade under the tree. As I sit there, I see something peculiar in the tree, a hole that looks almost man made. As I investigate the hole, I notice that it compels me to look inside. I then pull out a flashlight that I happen to have with me, look deep inside the hole and there at the bottom of the trunk is a box with some writing on it.

I pull the box out, take it on the other side of the tree so that no one will see and find that there is gold, silver and precious coins inside, and low and behold there are many, many boxes hidden in this tree. So what do I do? Well, I take the boxes, put them back in the tree, and figure out some way to cover the hole in the tree, then I run home excited and joyful more than can be imagined, because I found a treasure worth more than I can imagine. I run home and sell my cars, my house, all my possessions to come up with enough money to buy the field.

What joy, what happiness, what bliss is mine, for as soon as that property becomes mine, I will be independently wealthy and will be able to do whatever I want.

So if I knew the riches were there, of course I would sell all I had to buy it. I wouldn't do it begrudgingly, or half-hearted, but I would give everything that I have, and everything that I am in order to make this happen.

So here then is the simile, the kingdom of heaven is like this precious treasure, except this heavenly kingdom is worth more than any amount of riches on earth is worth. It is a treasure that doesn't fade, doesn't rust, or can't be spent. It is a treasure that no one can take away. It is infinitely valuable, and the serious nature of it cannot be described adequately.

The kingdom of heaven then is worth more than anything that I could find on this earth. It is worth more than independent wealth, it is worth more than a life of luxury, it is worth more than my house, my car, my possessions. This kingdom of heaven is a source of inexhaustible joy and happiness.

So what then is the simile? The simile and the point of this parable is that the kingdom of heaven, Christ's kingdom is something that I should value more than anything on earth. I should be ready and willing to give up all my possessions, even my family for this kingdom. But not only should I we willing to give it up, but I should be willing to give it up with joy. For the value of heaven and the reward there will be worth infinitely more than anything on this earth.

Oh to be heavenly minded in this way. Oh, to have so much joy and happiness and contentment in the heavenly and not in the earthly. Oh, that my mind would melt away from the cares and concerns of the world, and be intently pursuing the heavenly kingdom. Let the world fade away, let me be poor and miserable, but let me have the kingdom of heaven. Let me have the beauty of Jesus Christ forever.

Oh Father, so many times I am caught loving the things of the world and instead of treating heaven like the valuable treasure, I treat the world like the valuable treasure and chase after it with joy. Sometimes, I am willing to sell all my spiritual property to get something earthly. Forgive me oh God, through Jesus Christ. Help me, by your Spirit to be heavenly minded. Help me to be willing to forsake all of this world and all its joys for the joy set before me, the joy of heaven. I cannot do this without your help. I need you today, right now. Let me see heaven as the joy and only purpose of my life, and let me live with passion for you today. In Jesus' name and for His sake I pray, amen.