““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 NRSV)
What is a “treasure”?
A sea chest full of gold coins, buried on some long-forgotten pirate island?
The people closest to you?
An item that is of immense emotional, spiritual, or financial value?
Certain memories?
“Treasures” can be defined in many ways. But Jesus wants us to focus on him as our Treasure, not to focus on the things of this world. Our hearts do pursue what we define as our treasure.
“Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure.
“How could you worship two gods at the same time? You will have to hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t worship the true God while enslaved to the god of money!
“So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.” (Matthew 6: 19, 21, 24, 33 TPT)
Money can be our esteemed treasure, but so can our children, our house, our possessions, our activities, or a plethora of other things. Whatever those non-God treasures may be, they can certainly distract us from the true Treasure, Jesus Christ, unless we seek constantly after God’s kingdom and his righteousness. When we put God first – truly above all else – THEN he will give us all we need.
He is our Treasure.
Jesus, our Treasure,
Thank you for revealing yourself to us and for your ongoing love and grace in our lives. Thank you for giving us so many blessings – everyday things like the breath of Life you pour into us, our food, our safety, our warm homes, our friends, our families – and bigger things like our salvation, our purposes, and your love. Thank you for the gentle and loving warning to guard our hearts so you can always be our primary Treasure, not the stuff of this world, our activities and purposes, or even our relationships with other people. Help our hearts to always pursue you above all else so that you may then give us all we need and desire. For your honor and glory we pray, Amen.