TWO KINGDOMS
Susan Murray
Today’s Scripture: “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.” Matthew 13:44, ESV
Theme: Learn to properly identify treasure and value it appropriately.
VALUES
When my husband and I went car shopping, I valued the available features from most important to least important. We narrowed the search to certain makes and models based on reliability, which was ranked the most important value. After that I really wanted a blue crossover SUV but we bought a white midsize sedan with fewer bells and whistles because we valued lower price and better gas mileage more than color or body type. We all have values, and we place them in order of importance. This affects our choices in all areas of life.
COST
What we value can be identified when we are not only willing but eager to spend our time and money to fulfill a desire or goal. We have a limited amount of money and only a 24-hour day, so we decide where to spend it based on what is important to us. You may spend hours on your hands and knees scrubbing your floors, so they are spotless and shining, where I may do quick mopping and it’s clean enough for me. You may pay money because you value fancy polished fingernails, gardening, decorating, tools, hobbies, cars, and anything else available in the kingdom of this world. None of those things are bad or wrong choices in and of themselves.
KINGDOMS
In John 18:36, Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was “not of this world,” meaning the here and now seen world. His kingdom is different. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus uses the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven is like…” many times. Each phrase is followed by a metaphor using seen earthly things to help us understand an aspect or feature of His unseen kingdom. Our verse today compares the kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure that is found. Who would not value hidden treasure found? The one who found it valued it more than his possessions, so he sold everything to have the better treasure. It was worth the cost of losing everything to gain the one thing - heaven, the very presence of God.
JOY
Joy was the motive for him to sell everything to buy the land. This verse does not mean that we can buy our way into heaven. It just means that we truly see the great value of God and His kingdom and then value Him as He deserves above anything else. More than houses, cars, careers, big bank accounts, family, marriage, popularity, power, and anything else on this earth, in God we find true life. All these things may be good things - gifts FROM God. But in truth they are not as valuable as a relationship WITH God Himself. God knows you need things to live in this world (Matthew 6:31-33) but those blessings are not meant to be our foundation for a meaningful, purposeful, secure and happy life - He is.
We were created and designed to be in a relationship with God, but sin separated us from Him. Jesus then willingly gave up the treasured kingdom of God including it’s beauty, peace, glory, and power to come to our fallen kingdom to live the perfect life we couldn't and die the death we deserved so He could gain us, His treasure. “For the joy set before Him he endured the cross“(Hebrews 12:2 ESV). We are His joy!
Make It Personal: What do you treasure most? What gives you joy? What worldly possession are you dependent on to feel happy, acceptable and secure? Don’t know? Then ask God. Are you willing, like Saint Augustine to “reorder your loves” through repentance till Jesus becomes your most prized treasure? "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose," Jim Elliott, slain missionary.
Pray: Father. please show me Your kingdom. Forgive me for loving the things of this world more than I love You. Help me to reorder my loves. Jesus, I thank You for You paid the ultimate cost, Your life in this kingdom, ripping the veil ,making it possible for me to find You as my treasure so I can live eternally in Your kingdom. What joy! Amen
Read: Philippians 3:7-8; Matthew 5:3; Matthew 3:2; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1: 12-14; Hebrews 12:2, 26-28
Weekly Memory Verse: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6, ESV