“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”
Matthew 13:44
What do you value most? This question often seems like a difficult decision, but in an emergency, our true treasures are often revealed intuitively.
I recently read a news story about a fire in Southern California, USA. Many people had to make quick decisions about what to save before the raging fires in the Santa Monica Mountains destroyed their homes and threatened their lives. In less than eight hours, over 200 homes and structures were destroyed, many people injured, and three people killed. By the time it was over, two days later, over 500 homes and buildings were destroyed. If you had been living in the path of the fire, what would you have saved?
Today, we are going to examine a parable where Jesus describes the physical treasure a man valued so highly that he sold all he had to obtain it. Jesus uses this illustration to teach the spiritual truth that nothing on earth is as valuable as entering into His kingdom.
Notice how the parable says that this man ‘in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field’. This reminds me of Jesus’ words in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? The truth is that it is impossible for one man to gain the whole world, in fact the wealth of the top one hundred richest men in the world is just a fraction of the wealth of the world; a big fraction yes, but not everything still. Jesus knew how impossible this comparison sounded, yet he says that even if it were possible, gaining the whole world pales in comparison to the value of your soul. This highlights God’s immense regard for you. But how much do you value Him?
How much value do you place on life in Christ? If you are not a believer, someone who has placed their faith alone in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin, what’s holding you back? What are you counting as worth more than life with Him? Believers, what hinders you from becoming all you know you can be in serving Him? Is there anything truly more valuable than living for Christ? If something else seems more valuable, consider this: there’s nothing more fulfilling than living for Christ. I encourage you to fully commit yourself to God today. It’s the most rewarding investment you’ll ever make.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, may I fully commit myself to you today, and find true value and fulfilment in living for You. Amen.
