“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)
There it is. A one-verse parable.
Short - to the point - and full of meaning.
Jesus tells us the story to explain the incredible value found in being a Christian. Specifically, he wants to communicate the incredible value of knowing and walking with him. The Apostle Paul spoke in a similar manner when he wrote to the new believers in Philippi. He said, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ . . .” (Philippians 3:8)
Far too many believers view the Christian life as just a part of their life: sort of a supplement to the real core of who they really are. Having Jesus is a nice “add-on” to the sense of who they are - something that adds meaning, purpose and a sense of spirituality to their lives. But . . . something that’s not really essential to life itself. If life is like a high school curriculum, your job, marriage, children and enjoyable activities form the core of your curriculum. Jesus however, is more like an extracurricular activity. Meaningful and important, but not a required class.
Yet the New Testament never paints a picture of the Christian life is such casual, nonchalant language. The early Christians saw their entire lives as being created for God’s purposes and for doing his will. In Philippians 1:21 Paul writes, “For me to live is Christ . . .” His only reason for living was to know and serve Christ! He commanded the Christians in Colossae to put Christ first in their lives. “Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3) He then identifies the Christian life as the core of who we are as people. Colossians 3:4 says, “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
For the believer, Christ is not a “part” of his life. He is our life!
He is why we’re here!
Our problem is that we simply don’t appreciate the incredible value and worth of God himself. God is so great that the word “worth” simply does not begin to capture His essence. He is supreme over everything we can even imagine or think. He is larger than the universe He created. He is so much more glorious than the new heavens and the new earth. And eternity will not be long enough to begin to understand and appreciate His indescribable being.
He is above all else holy. It has been said that holiness is a word that means something like a summary of his perfections. He is holy and therefore different. His thoughts are not our thoughts; neither is his being anything like our being – even though (by his grace) we are created in His image.
He creates us and gives us life. He then touches our hearts and gives us spiritual life. He loves us, forgives us, and sanctifies us. He provides for us and prepares us for heaven. And all of this he does freely and graciously because He is a good God.
He is the treasure in the field.
When we find him, we want to give anything and everything to make sure that we have and enjoy him.
The man in the parable who found the treasure knew that whatever was in that field was far more valuable than anything he currently owned. He was therefore willing to sell everything he had to buy the field in order to have the treasure. Then – in his joy – he went and sold everything and bought the field.
Joy! He enjoyed every minute of this whole experience.
The Christian life is not a dull drudgery where we serve when we really don't want to serve - or give when we really don't want to give. We give freely - sell willingly - and do anything he asks us to do, in order that we might know and experience the greatest thing in life: Jesus!