Kingdom Discovery
Imagine for a minute you have been hired to repair a damaged wall in someone's house and while you are working on the wall, you discover a tin box hidden between the beams. You open it up to find something of great value. What do you do?
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. - Matthew 13:44
After reading today's scripture, you might close up the wall, leaving the box in it and go out and buy the house.
There is something wrong with that picture isn't there?
The problem is that we are focusing on the actions of the person finding the treasure, rather than the treasure itself, which is something so great, it compels us to want it for ourselves.
In the reading form Matthew, we have another example of treasure, a great pearl whose value surpasses all others. In that example, the man is actively looking for it. He sets out to find the pearl, knowing it is to be found.
Finally, the kingdom is like a net cast into the sea, catching everything. The good catch was saved, while the bad was thrown away.
When we take all three parables together, we have something of great value that is worth far more than we could imagine, so much so that we would do anything to have it. And we also have a reminder that all are invited but only the ones that are "good" are chosen.
So, how do we know if we will be included among the good fish or not?
Maybe we don't.
If we believe that the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God is something to be a part of, whether it exists here and now, or throughout eternity, then we will seek it for ourselves to the degree that we value it.
The more important it is for us, the more we will want it.
The more we want it, the more we will become active in our desire to achieve it. That, I believe, is the lesson here. Appealing to our understanding of our desire for riches and wealth, Jesus paints a picture of treasures in heaven, but he warns us as well.
Be the good that is in you and you won't have trouble finding the treasure you seek.
It could be that simple. We may not have to look for it. It may be in us all the time.
Of course, there is the temptation to find treasures in this life and that is the sticky part. The treasures we seek may not have lasting value, and we may not discover that until it is too late.
Something to think about.
More to come...